The Argument on the Soul in Pheado (Essay Sample)

You are to take a significant argument from The Pheado and give a full analysis. What is this argument? Is it a good argument? What objections might one raise against it? What role does it play in the philosophical theories of the author of the argument? I do not care whether you agree or disagree with the conclusion. Our concern is with the argument. More precisely, having sifted out what is irrelevant, mere illustration, or side issue, you are to make your job identifying what things are merely asserted and what are argued for, and to sift out what is irrelevant, illustration, or explanation. Then you must analyze what the argument is. Next, you need to identify difficulties in the argument. Is it sound, or are some of the premises false or the argument invalid? If so where precisely does it go wrong? If you think it valid, what serious objections might you raise against the argument, and how do you defend the argument against those objections. If the argument is part of a larger discussion, you need to explain how it contributes to the larger discussion. In discussing the argument stick very closely to the text. Make sure you show that each claim, for example, that you attribute to Socrates is actually a claim of Socrates by showing where in the text the claim is made or even by quoting the claim (with a reference to the text). Be sure to answer the entire question. Your paper should be clearly written, well organized, and grammatical with correct spelling. topic: Plato, the argument on the soul, Phaedo 105B-7A. To analyze this argument, you will certainly have to use (and cite) premises that come earlier in 99D-105B.