choose either topic listed in essay instructions

Phil 100

Choose and Complete ONE Essay (Either Essay 1, or Essay 2)

Requirements: typed, double-spaced, standard font, standard margins, format left to student choice (MLA, APA or Chicago Style[1]), turned in through canvas Turnitin located if you scroll to the bottom of the assignment page

Essay 1: A Comparison with the Allegory of the Cave & the Upper World

In a minimum of 1000 words (3 pages double spaced, feel free to go over) compare and contrast the allegory of the cave and the upper world to ONE of the following categories:

Either (A), a fictional story (such as the Truman Show, the Matrix, 1984, Animal Farm, Dark City, City of Ember, The Cave by José Saramago, Room by Emma Donoghue, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, etc., or any other fictional comparison of your choice you believe is appropriate).

Or (B), something outside of the Republic other than a fictional story (the phenomenon of social media, Galileo’s break from Aristotelean science, an advancement in technology/art/creativity/ideas, etc.).

Or (C), to an experience in your own life. (A self-realization, a personal learning experience, a religious or spiritual experience, one’s experience of AA, NA, the experience of living some place new, the insight of a breakthrough idea in science/technology/industry, any learning experience where you can see a difference from where you once were to where you are now, etc.).

Be sure to include all of the following aspects in your comparison:

the 4 cognitive levels as distinguished by the divided line in book VI (image-thinking, belief, understanding, knowledge)
the prisoners in the cave who have been placed there since childhood
the fetters around their necks such that they are not able to ‘see’ one another but only hear the words they speak
the shadows on the cave wall
the shadows of the prisoners themselves
the objects above the wall that project the shadows
the fire light in the cave
the opening to the upper world from the cave and the rough ascent to get there
the upper world at night
the upper world in the day.
Or…

Essay 2: Ethical Dilemma

In a minimum 1000 words, find an ethical dilemma from news/current events, literature, film, TV, popular culture, etc. Cite your source and briefly analyze it using ALL TEN of the lenses of the ethical positions we went over last section in class. focus on utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics: (utilitarianism, deontology {use categorical imperative when applying}, virtue ethics {use the golden mean}, altruism, egoism {analyze with prisoners’ dilemma}, social contract {use the state of nature and their view of law to analyze}, positive law, natural law, relativism and nihilism). Conclude by giving reasons for why YOU side with one of the ethical positions discussed or for a particular blend of positions, or provide your own solution to the dilemma that the ten ethical positions fail to bring up. Be sure to explain your reasoning as thoroughly as possible.