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80-150 The Nature of Reason

Summer Two 2001, Dirk Schlimm
 
Homework No. 7
 
Wednesday, July 11 
    Today's homework stands under the motto: Read the sources!

  1. Reading.
    Read the handout. Excerpts from Plato's Meno, Aristotle's Metaphysics and Physics.

  2. Meno (3 points)
    1. Give a short summary of Plato's argument for the theory of recollection.
    2. What is the difference for Plato between `true opinions' and `knowledge'?

  3. Metaphysics (4 points)
    1. Describe the causes that Aristotle mentions in your own words; give the examples that he mentions. Try to be as clear as possible.
    2. Which philosophers does Aristotle mention and what views does he ascribe to them?
    3. (The following 3 questions refer to p.215)
      How do mathematical objects differ from Forms and from perceptible things, according to Plato?
    4. In what respect are the views of Plato similar to those of the Pythagoreans?
    5. How does Plato's views differ from those of the Pythagoreans?

  4. Physics (3 points)
    1. This is the text that Aristotle refers to at the beginning of the excerpt from the Metaphyics.
      Again, describe the causes that Aristotle mentions in your own words; give the examples that he mentions. Try to be as clear as possible.