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Phil 20a Paper Topics 2Paper Topics 2 Presocratic Philosophy
Write a two-page paper that gives an answer to one of the following questions. After the paper has been criticized in class, you will have a chance to rewrite it. The polished paper must be typed and double-spaced. The paper should have one main idea with one main supporting reason. Focus is a very important quality for papers in this class. The paper should include a brief summary of the main idea from the readings that you are dealing with.
1. Argue for or against the “standard story” of Presocratic philosophy, using evidence from the book.
2. Argue for or against the claim that Osborne herself follows the standard story.
3. Argue for or against the claim that the appearance/reality distinction was important for the Presocratics.
4. Did Parmenides engage in argument?
5. Argue for or against the claim that Zeno was right.
6. Can we step into the same river twice?
7. Argue for Aristotle’s critique of Heraclitus, or defend Heraclitus against Aristotle.
8. Argue for or against the claim that Osborne’s description of Pythagoras is racist.
9. Argue for or against the Protagoras’ claim that “man is the measure of all things.”
10. Based on what you know, is Plato’s characterization of the sophists fair?
11. Write on a topic of your own related to Presocratic philosophy.
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