Western Thought Homework
Homework 30
Read Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Section Six. Enter your questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, May 21st
Homework 59
Read Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Section Five. Enter your questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
ALSO: Scale of the Universe. Be amazed.
-Due Wednesday, May 16th
Homework 58
Read Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Section Four (Epigrams and Interludes) for Monday. Enter your questions here--note that I'm also going to ask you for your favorite or least favorite aphorism in this form.
-Due Monday, May 14th
Homework 57
Read Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Section Three.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, May 11th
Homework 56
Read Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Section Two.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday.
-Due Monday, May 7th
Homework 55
We are going to being Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. Please read Chapter 1.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, May 2nd
Homework 54
We are finishing On Liberty. Here is the final section. Or, if you prefer, listen to it (mp3 courtesy of Librivox.org)
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, April 30th
Homework 53
More On Liberty. Here is the fourth section. Or, if you prefer, listen to it (mp3 courtesy of Librivox.org)
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, April 24th
Homework 52
Please read Chapter Three of On Liberty. Or, if you prefer, listen to Chapter 3
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday.
-Due Monday, April 23rd
Homework 51
Please read Chapter Two of On Liberty. Or, if you prefer, listen to it (Chapter 2, Part 1, Chapter 2, Part 2,)
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight. Please note that I'm also asking you to enter a social convention that we should perhaps reexamine. If your suggestion is so radical that you don't want your name associated with it, put ANON in front of your submission.
-Due Wednesday, April 18th
Homework 50
We are starting John Stuart Mill's On Liberty. Here is the first section. Or, if you prefer, listen to it (mp3 courtesy of Librivox.org)
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT next Sunday night.
-Due Monday, April 16th
Homework 49
Please finish the Communist Manifesto. Book can be found here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, April 3rd
Homework 48
Please read the second section of the Communist Manifesto--Proletarians and Communists (p.22). Book can be found here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, March 30th
Homework 47
We are beginning Marx and Engels--The Communist Manifesto. Here is a PDF of the whole book--it is only 45 pages long. Please read the Preamble and the section entitled "Bourgeois and Proletarians"--up to page 12 in the PDF.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, March 27th
Homework 46
Please read Book Four of the Social Contract, (The whole book as a PDF is here).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Monday.
-Due Monday, March 26th
Homework 45
Please read Book Three of the Social Contract, (The whole book as a PDF is here).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Thursday, March 22nd
Homework 44
Please read Book Two of the Social Contract, (The whole book as a PDF is here).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, March 20th.
Homework 43
Please read Book One of Rousseau's Social Contract. If you want the PDF, it can be found here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
AND: Proof that our class will make you happy?
-Due Thursday, March 15th.
Homework 42
We are finishing Locke. Please find the final section here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, March 14th.
Reflection Essay 4
Please compare some aspect of Hobbes with some aspect of Machiavelli. Please write an essay of two to three pages (DOUBLE SPACED) by midnight, Sunday, March 18th. Please save it as a PDF entitled Your Name, Essay 4 and upload it to your Dropbox.
-Due Monday, March 19th
Homework 41
We are continuing with Locke. Please read the third section here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, March 12th.
Homework 40
We are continuing with Locke. Please read the second section here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Wednesday night.
-Due Thursday, March 8th.
Homework 39
We are beginning John Locke's Second Treatise. Please read the first section here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, March 6th.
Homework 38
Here is the third reading from Hobbes's Leviathan.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, March 2
Homework 37
Here is the first reading from Hobbes's Leviathan, and here is the second.
Please enter questions on the first reading here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
Please enter questions on the second reading here before MIDNIGHT Tuesday night.
-Due Monday, February 27th
Homework 36
Please read The Prince, from Chapter 21 (p. 94) to the end (p. 112).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Tuesday night.
-Due Wednesday, February 15th
Homework 35
Please read The Prince, from Chapter 17 (p. 71) to the end of Chapter 20 (p. 93).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, February 13th
Homework 34
Please read The Prince, from Chapter 11 (p. 49) to the end of Chapter 16 (p. 70).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Wednesday night.
-Due Thursday, February 9th
Homework 33
Please read The Prince, from Chapter 7 (p. 28) to the end of Chapter 10 (p. 48).
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, February 7th
Homework 32
We are moving on to Machiavelli. For background, I recommend reading the timeline entitled "The World of Niccolo Machiavelli and the Prince," on page ix of our book. If you have time, you also might want to check out the introduction (though it is about 30 pages, they go quickly).
Read The Prince, from page 5 (the dedicatory letter) up to page 26 (the end of Chapter 6) For those who want to read Machiavelli's description of Cesare Borgia's slaughter at Senigallia, it is here (entitled "A description of the methods adopted by the Duke Valentino when murdering Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, the Signor Pagolo, and the Duke di Gravina Orsini").
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, February 1st
Homework 31
Please read Meditations, the Eighth AND Ninth books, which begin here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, January 21st
ALSO
Please check out Radiolab's Good Show and Bad Show. Note that these link to downloadable mp3 files. Please listen over the break.
Homework 30
Please read Meditations, the Sixth AND Seventh books, which begin here. This is a new PDF of a more modern translation.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Wednesday night.
-Due Thursday, January 19th
Homework 29
Please read Meditations, the Fourth AND Fifth books, which begin here. This is a new PDF of a more modern translation. Tell me if you like it!
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Thursday night.
-Due Friday, January 13th
AND
Reflection Essay 3
What is your reaction to Aristotle's Politics? How did it make you feel? Did it change your mind or challenge any of your previously held notions about the world? Please write an essay of two to three pages (DOUBLE SPACED) by midnight, Friday, January 20th. Please save it as a PDF entitled Your Name, Essay 3 and upload it to your Dropbox.
-Due Friday, January 20th
Homework 20
Homework 28
Please read Meditations, the Third AND Fourth books, which begin here. This is a new PDF of a more modern translation. Tell me if you like it!
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, January 11th
Homework 27
Please read Meditations, the Second AND Third Books, which begin here. This is from page 30 to page 43.
Note that if you want an HTML, EPUB. Plain Text or Kindle version of this book, you can find it here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, January 9th
Homework 26
We are beginning Meditations by Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Check out this book which begins here. Read the introduction and the First Book--this should take you up to page 29.
Note that if you want an HTML, EPUB. Plain Text or Kindle version of this book, you can find it here.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Thursday, January 5th
Homework 25
Please read Book Eight and thus conclude the Politics, which begins on p. 244 and goes t0 p. 259. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, January 3rd
Homework 24
Please read Book Seven of the Politics, which begins on p. 206 and goes t0 p. 243. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Wednesday, December 21st
Homework 23
Please read Book Six of the Politics, which begins on p. 188 and goes t0 p. 206. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, December 19th
Homework 21
Please read Book Five of the Politics, which begins on p. 144 and goes t0 p. 187. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Thursday, December 15th
Reflection Essay 2
What is your reaction to Plato's Republic? How did it make you feel? Did it change your mind or challenge any of your previously held notions about the world? Please write an essay of two to three pages (DOUBLE SPACED) for Monday. Please save it as a PDF entitled Your Name, Essay 2 and upload it to your Dropbox account by 12 midnight, Sunday night.
-Due Monday, December 19th
Homework 20
Please read Book Four of the Politics, which begins on p. 107 and goes t0 p. 143. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, December 12th
Homework 19
Please read Book Three of the Politics, which begins on p. 67 and goes t0 p. 106. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Friday, December 7th
Homework 18
We are continuing on with the Politics. Please read Book Two, which begins on p. 27 and goes t0 p. 66. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT Monday night.
-Due Tuesday, November 23rd
Homework 17
We are beginning to read Aristotle's Politics. I'm sending you to this Google Book which is a Jowett translation from 1885. Please read Book One, which begins on p.1 and goes t0 p. 26. Note that if you want to print it or save it as a PDF, there is an option to download in the upper right hand corner.
Please enter questions here before MIDNIGHT tonight.
-Due Tuesday, November 29th
Homework 16
Please read Book 10 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight Sunday night.
Also: Please bring in a check for $20 made out to Stuyvesant High School to pay for our books by Monday. Thanks!
-Due Monday, November 21st
Homework 15
Please read Book 9 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight tonight.
Also: Proof that everything comes from philosophy.
-Due Tuesday, November 15th
Homework 14
Please read Book 8 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight tonight.
-Due Thursday, November 10th
Homework 13
Please read Book 7 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight tonight.
-Due Friday, November 3rd
Homework 12
Please read Book 6 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight tonight.
-Due Tuesday, November 2nd
Homework 11
Please read Book 5 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight tonight.
-Due Friday, October 28th
Homework 10
Please read Book 4 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight Sunday.
-Due Monday, October 24th
Homework 9
Please read Book 3 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight Wednesday.
-Due Thursday, October 20th
Homework 8
Please read Book 2 of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here by midnight Sunday.
-Due Monday, October 17th
Homework 7
Please read Book I of Plato's Republic. Think of three questions and enter them here.
-Due Tuesday, October 10th
Also:
Reflection Essay 1
What is your reaction to the Socratic dialogues (Meno, Apology and Crito)? How did they make you feel? Did they change your mind or challenge any of your previously held notions about the world? Please write an essay of two to three pages (DOUBLE SPACED) for Friday. Please save it as a PDF entitled Your Name, Essay 1 and upload it to your Dropbox account by 12 midnight, Friday morning.
-Due Friday, October 14th
Homework 6
Please start reading Plato's Crito. Please note that we will not be discussing this reading until Thursday. As a result, the three questions that you should enter here are not due until MIDNIGHT Wednesday night.
-Due Thursday, October 6th
Homework 5
Please start reading Plato's Apology. Please note that we will not be discussing this reading until Monday. As a result, the three questions that you should enter here are not due until MIDNIGHT Sunday night.
-Due Monday, October 3rd
Homework 4
Please start reading Plato's Meno. It is 36 pages long, and I'd like you to be done with it by Monday, September 26th. Please enter your three questions into this form by midnight SUNDAY.
-Due Monday, September 26th
Homework 3
Please read the following article on the Presocratics (PDF). This is taken from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Please think of three questions and enter them into this form by midnight this Monday night.
-Due Tuesday, September 20th
Homework 2
Please start to read the Melian Dialogue from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War. Think of three questions and enter them into this form. Please do so before midnight this Thursday night.
-Due Friday, September 16th
Homework 1
Please read the Funeral Oration of Pericles. Think of three questions and enter them into this form! Please do so before midnight tonight.
-Due Wednesday, September 14th.
Homework
Check out this brief history of Athens. Also, look at this very brief overview of Athenian democracy.
DROPBOX INFO:
You should do the following:
1) Make sure you have a Dropbox account.
2) Share a folder with me. The format should be as follows: If your name were Laurent Gbagbo, the folder would be Laurent Gbagbo, WPT. My e-mail address for sharing is mpolazzo@gmail.com.
3) Upload a headshot of yourself that (a) is not too large and (b) actually looks like you. Place it in the shared folder. Name it gbagbo.jpg (substitute your last name for gbagbo). Please note that all headshots should be in JPEG form!
4) Your shared folder must be created and your headshot must be uploaded by the start of class tomorrow!
-Due Tuesday, September 13th.
Homework (No Written Assignment)
Read this somewhat controversial article by Stanley Fish entitled "Does Philosophy Matter?" Be Prepared to discuss
-Due Monday, September 12th