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As you read through the following passages and watch the video What Oriellian Really Means, think about the philosopher’s theories, lecture contents, and what Noah has to say about political rhetoric. Look at their use of logic and argumentation (or lack of). Rename document: Last Name, First Initial Course Number HW 5 Example: Bjork, K (insert your course number here) HW 5 Socrates’ Claims on Political Speaking While Socrates is known to have never written his methods. We know his beliefs and viewpoints from the writings of his student Plato. Socrates thought that the purpose of politics was not to capture power, nor it was an art how to remain in power. Political ethics make good and proper citizens. Both public and private persons must learn the art of political ethics. Socrates perceived a problem with the opinions or judgments that inform every political community and that this perception led him eventually to conclude that the only sound political principle, or principle of action, is to whole-heartedly pursue wisdom.1 In other words, one should live a life of philosophy instead of devoting oneself to the improvement of the city. For Socrates, therefore, the judgments of citizens—even elite citizens—cannot possibly rise to the level of knowledge without losing their distinctly political character. Plato’s Claims on Political Speaking While Plato’s writings on political philosophy are grounded in dialogue, I will provide summarizations of conversations recorded by Plato and Xenophon. “The human race will have no respite from evils until those who are really philosophers acquire political power or until, through some divine dispensation, those who rule and have political authority in the cities become real philosophers.” “Politicians—like physicians, attorneys, nurses, physicists, and philosophy professors—are educated in areas relevant to making important decisions for the society.2 Plato’s work focused on Justice and was centered mainly around the dialogue of trials of other philosophers [...] Plato thought that the ruling class should be morally excellent.” Aristotle’s Claims on Political Speaking “[…] man is by nature a political animal […] man is much more a political animal than any kind of bee or any herd animal is clear. For, as we assert, nature does nothing in vain; and man alone among the animals has speech.”3 “[…] For it is peculiar to man as compared to the other animals that he alone has a perception of good and bad and just and unjust and other things; partnership in these things is what makes a household and a city.” “Every state is a community of some kind, and every community is established with a view to some good; for mankind always act in order to obtain that which they think good. But, if all communities aim at some good, the state or political community, which is the highest of all, and which embraces all the rest, aims at good in a greater degree than any other, and at the highest good.” “[...] But all this is a mistake; for governments differ in kind, as will be evident to any one who considers the matter according to the method which has hitherto guided us. As in other departments of science, so in politics, the compound should always be resolved into the simple elements or least parts of the whole. We must therefore look at the elements of which the state is composed, in order that we may see in what the different kinds of rule differ from one another, and whether any scientific result can be attained about each one of them.”4 [1] Socrates perceived a problem with the opinions or judgments that inform every political community and that this perception led him eventually to conclude that the only sound political principle, or principle of action, is to whole-heartedly pursue wisdom. 1. What do you think Socrates means when he says, “only sound political principle is to whole-heartedly pursue wisdom”? a. Think about how we come to determine what our personal beliefs, values, and attitudes are. [2] Politicians—like physicians, attorneys, nurses, physicists, and philosophy professors—are educated in areas relevant to making important decisions for the society. (2) 2. What makes a politician educated? How do we know that their level of political education will result in making the best decision for society? [3] “[…] man is by nature a political animal […] man is much more a political animal than any kind of bee or any herd animal is clear. For, as we assert, nature does nothing in vain; and man alone among the animals has speech.” [4] “[...] But all this is a mistake; for governments differ in kind, as will be evident to any one who considers the matter according to the method which has hitherto guided us. As in other departments of science, so in politics, the compound should always be resolved into the simple elements or least parts of the whole. We must therefore look at the elements of which the state is composed, in order that we may see in what the different kinds of rule differ from one another, and whether any scientific result can be attained about each one of them.” 3. Aristotle claims that man is more political than any herd animal. He goes on to say that governments differ in many kinds (democracy, utilitarianism, socialism, fascism, etc.). How are people more political than herd animals? Are we truly any more different than herd animals? (Think about Lion Prides, Troops, and Pods) 4. Summarize Noah’s video on Orwellian language. Why is Orwellian language often confused with the incorrect definition? 5. Based on Noah’s video, does Orwellian follow any of the philosopher’s concepts of political rhetoric and politics? (think, does Orwell’s original definition fulfil any of the philosopher’s definitions? Does Orwell’s correct definition fulfil any of the philosopher’s definitions?)