Plato philosophy essay

For this assignment, you will write an essay of about 600 – 800 words in which you 1) identify a key philosophical question that Plato explores in one or more of the Five Dialogues we have read, 2) describe generally how the dialog or dialogs investigate that issue, 3) summarize an argument put forth addressing that question, 4) examine and discuss the justification for the argument, and 5) taking your own position and explaining your justification for your position.

Begin with an introductory paragraph in which you introduce the philosophical issue you are exploring and phrase it in terms of a clear philosophical question. Be sure to identify which texts you will be exploring, and briefly identify the position you will summarize from the text and your own position.
Follow this with a brief background section — a substantial paragraph or two — in which you discuss how the question is introduced in the text (or texts) you are using. Both help the reader see this in the context of the text and the broader narrative (if appropriate) about Socrates’s trial.
This should be followed, then, by the heart of your discussion, a summary of the argument offered in the text. Be sure to provide a detailed account of the basic claim (conclusion) of the argument and the supporting justification (premises). Although formally outlining the premises and conclusion is a good step to providing a summary, you should also explain the implicit or explicit connections that make the argument work. Keep in mind, this needs to be in your own words, and you should make sure you are not using the language of the text unless you are quoting (which should be rare). This section is likely to be several paragraphs — though that may vary depending on the argument you summarize and your own style of paragraphing.
Follow this summary, then, with discussion of the justification used in this argument. What type of justification is used, and in your evaluation is it used effectively or not. Be sure to use a basic principle of charity (Morrow, p. 54) in exploring the argument — your job here is not to take it apart, but to offer a good critique, while making sure you have taken the argument seriously. You can discuss more then one interpretation of the argument if you wish.
End with a conclusion in which you provide your own take on the argument, and explain why you take this position, offering your own justification for your position.