tripping balls. (aka; major essay outline.)

A) Topic/Question

Does Socrates make a credible, coherent, sufficient, and reasonable account or explanation of why he should not escape jail and await his death?

B) Initial thesis statement/statement of intent

Socrates was right to remain in prison and await his death, the repercussions of this decision being positive in relation to the law of Ancient Athens, to his own beliefs and teachings, and finally to his fellow citizens.

C) Outline

Context

Who: Socrates

What: The philosopher’s decision to face his death sentence

When: Athens, Ancient Greece

Where: Athens’ city prison

How: He ended up in prison for corrupting the mind of the youth, and for insulting the jury with his outrageous requests.

Problem / Concepts

Social contract theory

“View that persons’ moral and/or political obligations are dependant upon a contract or agreement between them to form a society.”

Ethics

“involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.” (More specifically, normative ethics deals with our responsibility as a citizen, and the consequences our actions may have on others.)

Justice

“is worth having for its own sake, and that the just man is the happy man.” (According to Socrates, justice is more than following the laws of the city-state; it is also about the just state of the soul. A just soul comes from a just man.)

Argument #1

Made the right decision according to the law.

- context: city was more important than family, including parents

- city had raised, protected him so far (à give something in return)

- sacrifice one for the good of all: city will no longer be ‘disturbed’ by its ‘gadfly’

Argument #2

Made the right decision in relation to his own beliefs.

- his belief: without the mind, the body is useless (so he would rather die than not be able to practice philosophy because he would be in hiding)

- proves he really believed in what he taught, because he was able to reinforce what he said with action (he stoodup for what he believed in)

- just man = wise man = just conscience, which will necessarily abide by its city’s laws

Argument #3

Made the right decision for the rest of the city’s population.

- S: faithful citizen so far; remain so by following through on city’s last demand of him

- government can use S’s case to prove they are not bluffing; they will reinforce the laws, and officials will not tolerate rudeness

- S is showing others to stand up for what you believe in, until the end

D) Initial Bibliography

1) Jowett, Benjamin. Plato: Crito. The Internet Classics Archive, 1994-2000. 21 October 2008 < http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/crito.html>.

2) Ph.D. Fieser, James, ed. Social Contract Theory. 21 October 2008. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/s/soc-cont.htm>.

3) Ph.D. Fieser, James, ed. Ethics. 21 October 2008. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/ethics.htm>.

4) Ph.D. Fieser, James, ed. Thrasymachus. 21 October 2008. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/t/thrasymachus.htm>.

5) Soccio, Douglas J. Archetypes of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy. Sashta : Wadsworth, 2006.

An image is worth a thousand words.

 

Missing the 90’s.

omg i miss when my dad used to be home and we would always play sega super late

The night didn’t turn out so bad. (:

I’m happy.

I’m laughing.

I’m remembering the 90’s with Mass at 12:34 in the morning

And it’s better than waiting for a blip of life from you.

Rugrats, Mummies Alive, Medabots, Monster Rancher, Digimon… let’s go BACK. <3

One word to sum up the last couple hours?

Disappointment.

Unanswered replies from the one I really want to hear from,

And a replacement who doesn’t have the flow I’m looking for.

It was going nicely, but…

I don’t know. Maybe I’m too picky.

I guess I’ll sleep it off later,
And work it away now.

More lists.

I want:

• to be able to rest my head on your shoulders
• to hug you, and only have it mean so much
• to hold hands, and not make you think about it
• to talk to you and not think about what I’m saying
• to be friends

I don’t want:

• to hurt you
• to take advantage of you
• to pretend with you
• to give you the wrong message
• to go around the bases with you

Just take it slow now.

I don’t care which message I’m sending tonight.

… which is why I’m staying away from most people.

My fingers will do the typing; my brain is away ’til tonight, when I’m lying in bed and realizing what I’ve done. I’m hoping I won’t regret anything. I don’t plan on worrying that far ahead, though. Not right now.

Get your head out of your pants;
Live in the now;
Wanting to be friends…
Is that so bad?

What if I don’t want everything to be clearly defined?
What if I like things the way they are?

You can’t draw a clear line in the sand,
But you can still tell left from right.
Right?

Come back;
But not like before.
Like at first.

Word Vomit.

I don’t feel like messing around right now. I don’t feel like watching what I say, or being careful with emotions. I feel like just being and just saying and I only feel like doing that with one person, tonight.

But things are complicated.
(Why do things always have to be complicated?)

I want a slow conversation, where I don’t have to be afraid of tripping over myself.
I want to be able to think through my fingers, and press send.
I don’t want to always be on my feet.

I’m tired.

The words are coming,

But to… here.

And not to him.

I don’t miss the Friday you. I miss the quiet you.

Hey… It’s raining.

Letter to Charles, executive editor of school newspaper, The Word.

I am
finding myself
unable to find
a proper
article
subject

especially one related to
or pertaining to
Christmas
and the season
that is
coldfrostandslush.

pleasedontskinmealive.

[from: me.]

Shit. I really need ideas for a new article.
(I’m saving my Love-related one for the Febr. issue.)

LeeLee is   nokisslist. BATMUN.             says (12:30 PM):
I just read Naomi&Ely’s No Kiss List.
It was really good.
It made me cry a bit, at the end.
It’s about a girl and a boy, who are best friends.
LeeLee is    nokisslist. BATMUN.             says (12:31 PM):
The boy is gay; the girl is straight.
They know each other inside out,
The girl wants the boy
The boy is promiscuous with everyone but her.
It was a really good book
And it made me think of you sometimes.
That’s it. (:

I just finished Naomi&Ely’s No Kiss List. You should read it, even if I’m not sure you’ll get it the way I did. Do.
It made me think of Nathan. It made me remember the friendship and connection and love that I’m still not sure if I imagined up, or actually read well. Or something in the middle. Even if he&I haven’t lived in the apartment in front of me my whole life, that doesn’t mean that I can’t remember ever not having him right there, as a name on my desktop, as one click away, as always in my room, as a last, smiling thought before falling asleep.

I think love also means that last call. If it was the end of the world; who would you call? Who would be in your thoughts?

I also think love is understanding that you’re not the first one on the last call list, and being okay with that. Understanding it. Accepting it. With a smile on your face, and love in your heart.

I love you,

still.

Neven’s Notes.

(A new feature.)

What we learnt:

• Ants are boring
• Greek Gods are horny
• Zemo believes all mistakes are being remade
• Humans turn into spiders
• Wikipedia > Neven
• Don’t write = Don’t get busted
• Socrates = world class shit disturber
• Plato is part of the BLUE MAN GROUP
• World Class Shit Disturber convicted by minority, poking metaphorical eyes of jury by asking for ancient times’ versin of a villa, plasma screen tv, and 3 maids.
• Mel Gibson should direct: SOCRATES: NOT A BLUE MAN
• Female philosophers in gardens = whores with smears
• Chalk brushes float over bridges (which explains how cellphones work.

Quotes:

• “Smells like a desk. Tastes like a desk.”
• “Love the colors; tastes terrible.” [On play-doh]
• “Who woke up at 6 this morning and feels like shit?” (raises hand)
• “I’m with you for the nails in the eyeballs.”
• “… standing on their head, with shit up to their kness.” [about Dante's inferno]
• “Romans are just bananas about killing themselves.”
• “Socrates is in bed with this man, who clearly wants to jump him!”
• “Shit happens.” [when I pointed out he had chalk ALL over his black chemise and black pants.]
• “This overhead projector is STRIVING to the best, but it’s just NOT working out!”
• “Socrates said no to sex, drugs and rock&roll.”