ARGGHH writing my philosophy paper

[WindRavenX]

Philosophy is not good for us science freaks :argh:

I'm writing it on Plato's five dialogs, specifically on how Socrates thought the soul was immortal and that in order to have true knowledge and wisdom you had to live a pious life free from distractions that would confuse the soul.

Bah. I'd rather study virology.

[LynzM]

1. I hear ya

I'm taking an art history class this semester, which is interesting for an Engineer. They say a lot of stuff that I'm like "that's flat-out BS, you can't know that".... Drives me batty. I write well, but the 'where are your own opinions' aspect of it is weird for me to try to incorporate, as I'm so used to not having an opinion in the things I write. Or at least, not phrasing it as an opinion! Good luck to you :hug:

[Magrittes Pipe]

2. Which five?

I had a collegtion of five dialogues once -- I think they were the Euthyphro, the Phaedo, the Apology, the Crito... and something else. The Apology, Crito, and Phaedo really go together as the end of Socrates' life; but I don't recall why the Euthyphro and the other were packaged in there.

[WindRavenX]

3. that's the one

I'm mostly focusing on the Phaedo...good stuff about how the body distracts the mind. And he focuses on how sight is tricked by "illusions" (remember the cave analogy from Republic?).

[Magrittes Pipe]

4. Yes, but the Republic was written WAY later.

The Phaedo is probably more in line with Socrates' thinking than the later dialogues, when Plato put his own ideas in Socrates' mouth. The shadows in the cave have layers of nuance that the Phaedo doesn't really have time to develop, but it's on the same track.

[WindRavenX]

5. Right

That still confuses me- which is Socrates' ideas and which are Plato's ;)

[Magrittes Pipe]

6. That still confuses me too, and I have my B.A. in Philosophy.

And I had a senior seminar on Plato. :shrug:

[WindRavenX]

7. Would you mind if I PM'd you my paper when I'm done?

I'm really nervous about this. Im also an English major, but with a focus on poetry. I really have no idea how to write philosophy papers :shrug:

[Magrittes Pipe]

9. Heh -- I doubled in Phil. and Creative Writing.

Sure, go ahead. I'm kinda busy with the job search, so I can't GURANTEE I can get back to you before it's due... but I can definitely try!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. its hard for anyone to write papers in philosophy

even those of us who enjoy studying philosophy

[Meatwad]

10. As a science geek, I agree.

I hated Philosophy.

And yes, we really did study "If a tree were to fall in a woods, would it make a sound?". :argh:

[WindRavenX]

11. I kinda get what Socrates is saying about illusions and deceptions

I mean, we only see a fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum, but does that mean gamma and ultraviolet waves don't exist? :shrug:

I've already warned my professor to expect heavy science metaphors and analogies :D