Foundations of Philosophy

1. In Hesiod’s Theogony, the gods can represent many different things. Describe some of the things that the gods can represent, and give at least three examples from the text to support your claim.
2. In Hesiod’s Theogony, it becomes difficult to determine when the gods are to be understood literally and when they are to be understood metaphorically. Describe some of the potential difficulties that can occur when taking a purely literal interpretation of Theogony, and give at least three examples from the text to support your claim.
3. In Hesiod’s Theogony, the tension that arises within the family context can often have tragic implications. Discuss some of the implications of this tension, and be sure to give examples from the text to support your claim.
4. In Parmenides On Nature, the nature of being and non-being is discussed within the context of change. Give a description of how Parmenides understands the “Is” in relationship to change, and what are some of the difficulties that can arise when taken into consideration the nature of human perception.
5. In Parmenides On Nature, Parmenides discusses the relationship between the “Is” and thought. Give an account of this relationship, and be sure to include a discussion of how the “Is” is understood in the context of time versus that of thought and human perception.
6. Discuss one or several definitions of piety depicted in Plato’s Euthyphro. Be sure to include the major discrepancies inherent in the proposed definition of discussion, as well as how the problems of the previous definition (if applicable) resulted in the formation of the proposed definition. Also be sure to discuss how the discrepancies of the proposed definition result in a new definition of piety (if applicable).
7. Discuss one or several definitions of Justice in Book I of the Republic of Plato. Be sure to show how the major discrepancies of previous circumstances or definitions caused the formation of the proposed definition (if applicable), as well as how the discrepancies of the proposed definition lead into the formation of a new definition (if applicable).

Sample Solution