Essays and Research Papers on Classic Greek Philosophy

A 6 page overview of the ideological similarities and differences which exists between these philosophers. Contends that while these philosophers share many of the same ideological premises, Confucius and Socrates looked to government as the means to overcome man’s innate tendencies towards greed and corruption. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page research paper that examines various aspects of the philosophical outlook of Socrates. The writer examines Socrates' ideas on good and evil, dialectic education, and forms. His ideas are contrasted against those of the Sophists. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

This 6 page report discusses the attitudes and philosophies of Plato as expressed in The Republic regarding the existence of democracy and its value to the state. Through the voice and persona of Socrates, Plato discusses the types of inequity that exists both in “governed” states and in individuals. He explains that such inequities or ...

A 5 page research paper that relates ancient Greek philosophy, the thoughts of Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, regarding virtue, and how this can be applied to the film Instinct(1999), starring Anthony Hopkins. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines some of Plato’s views on the arts. The sources used to examine his views are the dialogues titled “Symposium” and “Republic.” No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper looks at happiness, and virtue, according to what Aristotle wrote in his famous work Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle's ideas about happiness, virtue and leading a contemplative life are discussed in depth. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper discusses specific aspects of these two cultures. Any culture, ancient or modern, can be found in the literature of the day. Homer, for instance, included the beliefs and philosophies of the Greeks in the Iliad. The issues addressed are: the relationship of God to man, the relationship of man to nature ...

6 pages in length. Discusses in detail Plato’s "The Republic" and the role of women in this dialogue. As Plato argues his position on the theories he admits that he is contradicting himself. For on one hand Plato says the women and children should be owned as property, and on the other ...

A 10 page paper which examines whether or not Socrates was right to obey his Athenian conviction of death by poison or if he should have acted to preserve his own life by escaping and going into exile, within the context of considering how Chuang-Tzu would have condemned the philosopher’s choice to abide by the ...

10 pages. In relating the character of Dr. Josef Breuer in Irving D. Yalom's well-known fictionalized work When Nietzsche Wept, we can do so by referring to the four ultimate concerns of existential psychotherapy, which are death, freedom, isolation and meaninglessness. These are the elements that were the basis for the experimental talking therapy that ...

This is a 5 page paper discussing Socrates’ argument on “love” found in Plato’s “Symposium”. In Plato’s “Symposium”, Socrates refutes the claims of his companions that love is beautiful and that love is a god. To do this he uses the arguments he learned presented to him by his teacher Diotima. Through Diotima’s arguments we ...

A 5 page paper comparing and contrasting these two authors’ accounts of the actions of Gyges of Lydia. Plato and Herodotus use the barest skeletal structure of the same story to convey similar endings with different morals. Plato’s, however, is written to encompass a much broader scope and in so doing, reveal some ...

A 5 page research paper that takes the form of 5 short essays on various topics addressing Plato's Republic. Topics addressed are the nature of the "simple city," and also discussions comparing the fate of the simple city to the dissolution of the native culture on Easter Island. Both instances are related to Plato's ideas ...

This 5 page paper looks at Aristotle's The Politics and how man is viewed. The nature of politics is discussed and man is compared with other creatures. Bibliography lists 1 source.

7 pages. The philosophy of time has been under debate since the day of Aristotle. Two articles in The Scientific American that deal with time are discussed in this paper and try to explain time in terms of both physics and philosophy. This is an intriguing paper that will pose many questions. ...

10 pages in length. Plato and Aristotle harbored decidedly different perspectives when it came to the requirements of a good political ruler. For Aristotle, the greater good set precedence for all other political considerations; those who do not approach government in this manner are overlooking the primary function of its existence. Plato, on ...

6 pages in length. As a juror sitting on the trial of Socrates, it has become clear that this man has society's best interests at heart. The issue at hand concerns the nature of man, his behavior and how that behavior has a domino effect on everything else. The question is raised ...

This 5 page paper suggests that ideas have not changed much over time. The works or ideas of Plato, Socrates, Kant, Hume and others are discussed in respect to common philosophical themes such as the existence of God and morality.Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines and critiques Socrates’ argument concerning justice in Plato’s “The Republic.” No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper evaluates these theorists' works and looks at the concept of good. The concept of happiness is also discussed at length. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This 5 page report discusses Plato’s description of the soul through his depiction of the words of Socrates in The Republic. It is then contrasted with a “competing” philosophy of the soul, as offered by Aristotle. Bibliography lists only one source.

This 5 page report discusses and compares two ancient Greek texts and considers the ways in which each addresses the issues related to what is “just” and “unjust” and what defines strength and weakness. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page essay that relates Plato's allegory of the cave, which is told in Book VII of The Republic. The writer summarizes and explains the symbolism of this allegory and relates it to Plato's worldview pertaining to the relationship of the philosopher to society and the relationship between different levels of reality. No additional ...

A paper which looks at selected Bronze Age cultures, including Egypt and the Indus civilisation, and also considers the importance of ancient Greek thought to modern intellectual inquiry.

5 pages in length. The writer discusses why certain characters act in certain ways, addressing such issues as fate, free will and heroism. No additional sources cited.