Reed College
Reed College

Humanities 110

Introduction to the Humanities

Paper Topics | Spring 2013 | Paper 2

Due Saturday, March 30th, 5 p.m., in your conference leader's Eliot Hall mailbox.
Length: 6-8 pages (1500-2000 words)

Write an essay in response to one of the following prompts. Structure your essay around a strong, analytical claim, and provide specific, detailed evidence from the primary texts to support that claim. You will want to focus on specific characters, episodes, relations, themes, or claims in the texts, rather than provide general summaries.

  1. In Nicomachean Ethics 10.6, Aristotle argues that the happy life (eudaimonia) seems to be a life in accord with virtue, which is a life involving serious actions, and not consisting in amusement (1177a). What are his arguments in this chapter? Critically evaluate at least one of the arguments, identifying an implausible premise or finding fault with the reasoning.

  2. Explain and critically evaluate Aristotles argument in Nicomachean Ethics 1.7 that the human good is found by first grasping the function of human beings. How does he make his argument, and does it work?

  3. Aristotle claims that the good of the city is greater and more complete than the good of an individual (1094b8-9), and also that the city is prior in nature to households and individuals (1253a19-20). How is this priority of the state over the individual analogous or disanalogous to the relation between a body and a hand? Evaluate the significance of this analogy/disanology.

  4. How might one argue that features of Aristotles method lead to his views on women and natural slaves? Is it possible to mount a distinctively Aristotelian critique of those views; i.e., using Aristotles own ethical and political theory, as well as his method? If not, why not? If so, what is that critique?

  5. Analyze the figure of Daniel as an interpreter of dreams. To what extent does Daniels art share the temperament of the Hellenistic Age described by J.J. Pollitt in his essay on this topic? Is Daniels art a good example of Hellenistic art? Why or why not?

  6. Analyze and describe the depiction of women in Theocrituss Idylls 2 and 15 by paying close attention to the poets use of imagery and diction.

  7. Consider Polybius's attitude toward the best possible constitution and praise for Roman socio-political structures in light of Aristotles theories. Is the state in Polybiuss opinion meant to habituate or rather to control the impulses of the masses?

  8. Justice has been done, says Pyrgopolynices at the end of Plautuss Miles Gloriosus. Examine the role that Palaestrio plays in the attainment of justice in the comedy in light of what happens to him at the end. What social order is created at the conclusion of the play? What kind of justice is restored or not restored? What does the resulting order reveal about the social function that comedy plays in Republican Rome?

  9. Lucretius thinks that the fear of death rests on mistaken beliefs. What are these false beliefs, and why does he think that, once they are corrected, death is not to be feared? Do you agree with Lucretius? Defend your position.

  10. Analyze Ciceros argument that the right and the advantageous cannot conflict in light of Thrasymachuss claim that justice is nothing else than the advantage of the stronger. What do you think Cicero means by advantageous and right?

  11. In consultation with your conference leader, write an essay on a topic of your own devising.