political theory essay
Write an essay, four to five pages in length, on ONE of the following quotations. In your essay, explain the concept to which the quotation refers, draw upon the readings and/or the discussions in class and discuss the implications of the concept to modern and classical circumstances.
1. “Hence it is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal.†– Aristotle
2. “Such is the tale; is there any possibility of making our citizens believe in it? “-Plato
3. “The mode of production of material life conditions the social, political and intellectual life process in general. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness.†– Marx
4. Drawing upon your reading of the “Critoâ€, present an argument for, or against, Socrates taking the opportunity to escape.
5. Present an argument against the Platonic conception of “justiceâ€. In your essay, present your own theory of “justice†and support it with Platonic terms of universality.
6. Present a rebuttal to the Platonic critique of democracy.
YOU MUST BE SPECIFIC IN YOUR REFERENCES TO PLATO AND ARISTOTLE BUT,
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TUST YOUR OWN INTELLIGENCE AND BE WILLING TO
EXPRESS YOUR OWN IDEAS.
