Essay on "Plato Week 3 Discussion Question"

Quoted Instructions for "Plato Week 3 Discussion Question" Assignment:

I would ***** to complete this paper.

Reading Assignment:

WESTERN VISION AND AMERICAN VALUES: THE KIRKPATRICK SIGNATURE SERIES READER (KSSR):

Herbert Butterfield: *****The Originality of the Old Testament***** 22

from *****The Gospel of St. Matthew***** 25

C. S. Lewis: Mere Christianity 29

John Winthrop: from *****A Model of Christian Charity***** 206

Plato: *****The Story of Gyges***** 314

Niccolo Machiavelli: from The Prince 317

Thomas Jefferson: *****The Character of George Washington***** 357

IN DEFENSE OF THE WEST:

Chapter 6 Community, Government, and Individual Responsibility

NOTE: Dr. Devine's book is intended to provide historical and philosophical context for the ideas in the main readings each week. You do not have to refer to ideas from his book in your threads each week, though you may (briefly) if you wish.

Writing Assignment 3.1:

Assume, hypothetically, that you are the best friend of the President of the United States, Gerome Andrews. He has been raised with the solid moral values of the Judeo-Christian tradition, though in college he read Plato's *****Story of Gyges***** and Machiavelli's The Prince and found intellectually intriguing the radically different perspectives they offered on moral issues. The President is on record as believing that strong values and a solid moral character are vital for all leaders and particularly for the Leader of the Free World. Still, certain situations have arisen in both his private and public lives in which it has proven useful to manipulate public opinion to his own political and economic advantage and even to lie (more than once) about decisions he has made. The president has confided to you that he believes (and you agree) that his management of the country has seen a number of domestic and economic policy successes and real achievements internationally, and that people have been very happy with the peace and prosperity of their lives (his approval ratings are over 60%). The president further believes that, anyway, what the public doesn't know won't hurt them--but this is where you part company with him. You are in possession of documentary evidence that the president has lied about recent major policy initiatives and has benefited economically from illegal dealings related to them. You also have evidence that the president has been having an extramarital affair for the past two years. Though this private indiscretion offends your own moral sensibility, you would never have considered betraying his confidence about it since his leadership actions as president have been so strong. Now that you are aware of his public misdeeds, however, you're re-evaluating your decision to keep the president's secrets. WRITE A 1,000-WORD MINIMUM ESSAY IN WHICH YOU EXPLAIN YOUR REASONS EITHER FOR TURNING OVER YOUR DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OR FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP SECRET YOUR EVIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENT*****S MISDEEDS IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE.

As you prepare to write your essay, you*****ll want to determine what specific moral contributions and values statements are found in each of this week*****s assigned readings. Thought questions for further brainstorming: What are the implications of Glaucon*****s cynical view of people in Plato*****s story? Would Locke agree with Glaucon? Are Machiavelli*****s ideas on leadership as applicable to a modern democracy as they were to the embattled city-states of his time? What can we learn about principled moral leadership from George Washington? How do our political leaders today measure up against the standard Washington set for public service? NOTE: THESE QUESTIONS ARE FOR BRAINSTORMING ON THE TOPIC. THEY ARE NOT THE TOPIC FOR YOUR ESSAY.