Search Our Essay Database

Essay Instructions: The myth of Santa Clause in 3 different cultures.
The 3 different versions of the myth of Santa Claus. Are they the same? Are they different? Are they considered truth or tale? How the stories changed based on cultural differences, beliefs, or time periods.

Essay Instructions: How are you?

Please answer all four questions below.

1.Allegory of the Cave in Book7 of plato's Republic
A-What are the people in the cave seeing? What do they think they are seeing? Who does Socrates say that the people in the cave are like?
B-What is the metaphorical meaning of the cave and of the journey from the darkness of the cave to the outside world?
C-What did the example of Santa Claus explain in relation to the experience of the journey out of the cave?
D-Is the journey out of the cave and the arrival outside in the light a negative or positive experience, or both? Explain.

2.Descartes-Context and Problem
A-In what era was Descartes living and working? What characterized this era in terms of intellectual edvelopment?
B-How did this context, and his personal experience of it, create a problem for Descartes, and what was that problem?
C-What does Descartes determine to seek? How will he perform this search-what will he do to investigate the problem? What is his primary tool(s)?
D-What is the first conclusion he reaches in this search? What is the second?

3.Descartes-Seeing is not always Believing: Senses and Knowledge.
A-(We went outdoor with professor and observed the poeple of different sizes and relation of the different objects)
What would be the purpose of outdoor excursion to observe the people of different sizes and the relation of the different objects(such as trees and buildings)in space? How do these relate to DEscartes' idea about sensory knowledge?
In the discussion of the melted wax, how do we "know"the wax candle at the start? What happens when the candle melts?
B-How do we know the melted wax is the same wax as the candle was?
C-What does this example help us to know better?
D-What do you think of Descartes'idea of the relation between the senses and the mind?

4.Attracted to Opposites
Both Descartes and Socrates use "opposites"to aid in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. Explain how opposites play a role for each of them. Be specific in explaining what kind of opposite each thinker emplys and for what purpose.(Be sure to include dialectic in your discussion of Socrates' use of opposites.)

*. Please try not to use difficult grammar form please...I'm an international student and that way it is easier to see.
*.It doesn't have to be double spaced or it can be also double spaced(Any format you want.) Type in 12pt please.
*. Please do your best to finish this up on time and send it to my e-mail...(Receiving on time is very very very important!!)
*.Thank you again and always appreciate your work.
*.If you have any Question, please e-mail me.

Essay Instructions: Answer all four questions. Answer should be typed in 12pt font on standard white paper. Answers do not have to be double spaced. If single spaced, leave several lines between each answer. Be sure each answer is clearly numbered. Direct references to the text in support of your answer(when needed) will enhance the quality of your answer.

(Required books)
-Plato, Great Dialogues of Plato, trans H.D. Rouse,
New American Library/Mentor Books 0-451-5274-53
-Descartes, Discourse on Method and the Meditations,Trans.
Lafleur,Macmillan Publishing Co. 0-02-367260-9
------------------------------------------------------------
1. Allegory of the Cave in Book VII of Plato's Republic

A- What are the people in the cave seeing? What do they think they are seeing? Who does Socrates say that the people in the cave are like?
B- What is the metaphorical meaning of the cave and of the journey from the darkness of the cave to the outside world?
C- What did the example of Santa Claus explain in relation to the experience of the journey out of the cave?
D- Is the journey out of the cave and the arrival outside in the light a negative or positive experience, or both? Explain.



2. Descartes-Context and problem

A- In what era was Descartes living and working? What characterized this era in terms of intellectual development?
B- How did this context, and his personal experience of it, create a problem for Descartes, and what was that problem?
C- What does Descartes determine to seek? How will he perform this search - what will he do to investigate the problem? What is his primary tool(s)?
D- What is the first conclusion he reaches in this search? What is the second?



3. Descartes - The Melted Wax

A- In the discussion of the melted wax, how do we "know" the wax candle at the start? What happens when the candle melts?
B- How do we know the melted wax is the same wax as the candle was?
C- What does this example help us to know better?
D- What do you think of Descartes' idea of the relation between the senses and the mind?



4. Attracted to Opposites

Both Descartes and Socrates use "opposites" to aid in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. Explain how opposites play a role for each of them. Be specific in explaining what kind of opposite each thinker employs and for what purpose. (Be sure to include dialectic in your discussion of socrates' use of opposites.)

Essay Instructions: Book:
1. Plato, Grat Dialogues of Plato, trans H.D.Rouse,
New American Library/Mentor Books 0-451-5274-53
2. Decartes, Discourse on Method and the Meditations, Trans.Lafleur,
Macmilla Publishing Co. 0-02-367260-9

1. Allegory of the Cave in Book VII of Plato’s Republic
A- What are the people in the cave seeing? What do they think they are seeing? Who does Socrates say that the people in the cave are like?
B- What is the metaphorical meaning of the cave and of the journey from the darkness of the cave to the outside world?
C- What did the example of Santa Claus explain in relation to the experience of the journey out of the cave?
D- Is the journey out of the cave and the arrival outside in the light a negative or positive experience, or both? Explain.

2. Descartes – Context and Problem
A- In what era was Descartes living and working? What characterized this era in terms of intellectual development?
B- How did this context, and his personal experience of it, create a problem for Descartes, and what was that problem?
C- What does Descartes determine to seek? How will he perform this search – What will he do to investigate the problem? What is his primary tool(s)?
D- What is the first conclusion he reaches in this search? What is the second?

3. Descartes – The Melted Wax
A- In the discussion of the melted wax, how do we “know” the wax candle at the start? What happens when the candle melts?
B- How do we know the melted wax is the same wax as the candle was?
C- What does this example help us to know better?
D- What do you think of Descartes’ idea of the relation between the senses and the mind?

4. Attracted to Opposites
Both Descartes and Socrates use “opposites” to aid in the pursuit of truth and knowledge. Explain how opposites play a role for each of them. Be specific in explaining what kind of opposite each thinker employs and for what purpose. (Be sure to include dialectic in your discussion of Socrates’ use of opposites)