CLASS 13 CLASS 13: EWRT 2

AGENDANew Groups revisitedReview: Thoughts on Machiavelli or Lao-

TzuIntroduce Essay #3: Justice: Due Week

8: Friday before noon. Discussion: Marcus Tullius Cicero "The

Defense of Injustice" BioRhetorical Strategies Questions for Critical Reading QHQs

Suggestions for Reading: Thoreau

STAND IF YOU ARE NOT IN A GROUP1. You must

change at least half of your team after each essay.

2. You may never have a new team composed of more than 50% of any prior team.

REVIEW DISCUSSION

Do you agree with Machiavelli’s thesis that stability and power are the only qualities that matter in the evaluation of governments? If not, what else matters?

Can we have Lao-Tzu’s peace, even though there is ambition, materialism, war, and famine on earth? How is it possible?

ESSAY #3: JUSTICE

Essay #3 will be in response to either the excerpt from Cicero, Thoreau, or both.

Choose your topic from "Suggestions for Writing" on pages 129-30, prompts 1-9 or on pages 157-58 prompts 1-6. The prompts are also listed on the website.

It should be a least two pages long but not longer than three pages (excluding a works cited page).

It should be formatted MLA style.It is due week 8, Friday at noon.

RESPONDING TO A PROMPT: CICERO #3

Clarify what Philus means by the term “wisdom,” which he introduces in paragraph 18. How do you understand his use of the term and how appropriate is the word “wisdom” for the ideas he describes? Would most people today regard the behavior he sketches out as an example of wisdom? Is it wisdom for you? What moral or ethical problems arise from Philus’s concept of wisdom?

TAKE IT APART AND BRIEFLY RESPOND TO EACH QUESTION

1. Clarify what Philus means by the term “wisdom,” which he introduces in paragraph 18.

2. How do you understand his use of the term

a. how appropriate is the word “wisdom” for the ideas he describes?

3. Would most people today regard the behavior he sketches out as an example of wisdom?

4. Is it wisdom for you?

5. What moral or ethical problems arise from Philus’s concept of wisdom?

THE THESIS: LOOK AT THE BRIEF ANSWERS YOU GAVE TO THE QUESTIONS. THEN, BEGIN TO WORK THEM INTO A SHORT ANSWER. YOUR THESIS WILL LIKELY BE A COMBINATION OF ANSWERS TO THE MOST IMPORTANT OR COMPELLING OF THE QUESTIONS.

1. Clarify what Philus means by the term “wisdom,” which he introduces in paragraph 18.

a. How do you understand his use of the term

I. how appropriate is the word “wisdom” for the ideas he describes?

2. Would most people today regard the behavior he sketches out as an example of wisdom?

a. Is it wisdom for you?

3. What moral or ethical problems arise from Philus’s concept of wisdom?

NOT ONLY A THESIS, BUT AN OUTLINE

Now, write a brief directed summary as an introduction, and conclude it with your thesis.

Expand your list of questions into an outline.

Find textual support for answers that will come from the text Clarify what Philus means by the term “wisdom,” which he introduces in

paragraph 18. how appropriate is the word “wisdom” for the ideas he describes? What moral or ethical problems arise from Philus’s concept of wisdom?

Find examples or support for answers that will come from another source

Would most people today regard the behavior he sketches out as an example of wisdom?

Express your opinion where the question asks for it. How do you understand his use of the term [wisdom]

Is it wisdom for you?

PUT YOUR EVIDENCE, EXPLANATION, AND ANALYSIS INTO YOUR OUTLINE

Directed Summary

Thesis

Section 1: Clarify what Philus means by the term “wisdom,” which he introduces in paragraph 18.

How do you understand his use of the term

how appropriate is the word “wisdom” for the ideas he describes?

Section 2: Would most people today regard the behavior he sketches out as an example of wisdom?

Is it wisdom for you?

Section 3: What moral or ethical problems arise from Philus’s concept of wisdom?

Conclusion

REVISE, EDIT, FORMAT MLA STYLE, AND MAKE A WORKS CITED PAGE

Who

was

Mar

cus T

ulliu

s

Cicero

?

Rome

106-

43 B

CE

MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) was one of the most important orators, intellectuals, and philosophers in the Roman Republic.

He was highly educated and served as Quaestor (a financial administrator) in Sicily, Aedile (an official) in Rome, and as Praetor (Lawyer). He was eventually elected Consul in 63.

In 44, when Caesar was murdered, Cicero championed the Republic. He tried to win over Octavian, but failed. He also gave his greatest speech, the Philipics, aimed at Marc Antony. However, this backfired, as the Second Triumvirate was formed, and Cicero's name was on the list of enemies. He fled Rome, but he was captured and executed.

Cicero's oration, philosophy, rhetoric, poetry, and letters create a vast collection of works that are matched by few in the modern world.

IN YOUR GROUPS

Discuss the rhetorical strategies of Cicero.

Discuss the “Questions for Critical Thinking” on page 129. Find textual support for your answers!

Whic

h

Rhetor

ical

Strat

egie

s

Does

Cicer

o

Use?

Argument Dialogue (Between Philus and Laelius)

Definition/interpretation (What is Justice?)

Offers Alternatives (perform injustice/not suffer it;

perform and suffer; neither perform or suffer it)

Evaluation (perform injustice and not

suffer it)

Compares (Justice to policies of

Rome)

Contrasts (Wisdom with Justice)

Analogy (virtuous man vs. ruffian)

Counterargument (by Laelius at the end to

make his point)

RHETORICAL STRATEGIES

Questio

ns for

Critica

l Rea

ding

WHY DOES LAELIUS CHOOSE PHILUS TO ARGUE AGAINST JUSTICE?

DOES ARGUING AGAINST A POSITIVE VALUE HELP OUR UNDERSTANDING OF

THAT VALUE’S IMPORTANCE?

WHAT IS PHILUS’S REPUTATION AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT HIS ARGUMENT?

HOW DO IDEAS OF JUSTICE DIFFER IN THE DIFFERENT LANDS PHILUS MENTIONS?

ON WHICH SIDE OF THIS ARGUMENT IS CICERO HIMSELF?

TO WHAT EXTENT IS PHILUS A FEMINIST?

WHICH OF LAELIUS’S STATEMENTS IN THE FINAL PARAGRAPHS OF THE SELECTION SEEM WEAKEST TO YOU? WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS?

QHQS

TRUE AND NATURAL JUSTICE AND LAW?

Q: Philus compares and contrasts justice with wisdom and with nature. What is the connection between them?

Q: Why might mentioning differences in interpretations of justice in different civilizations support a case to favor injustice?

Q: Combining wisdom and nature, Laelius states, “True law […] applies universally to everyone. It is unchanging and eternal” (128). If this is true, why do the laws of governments still vary so much?

Q: Do you believe in Laeluis side of the argument that, “The maker, and umpire, and properer of this law will be God, the single master and ruler of as all. If a man fails to obey God, then he will be in flight from his own self, repudiating his own human nature.” (129).

Q: Do you agree or disagree with Cicero when he says: “ Weakness, not nature of good intention, is the mother of justice ( Cicero 126) ?

Q: What makes Philus’ argument so strong even when he himself strongly opposes the topic he is given?

Q: Philus states that “laws can vary considerably” and that there are “differing ideas of justice” (125). Can you think of any laws from different countries around the world that differ from the United States? Can you think of any laws that may be considered unjust?

Philus tells us justice isn’t one static thing, and as time passes the interpretation and meaning of justice changes. Does that mean we can change the meaning of justice at anytime and make the meaning of justice benefit ourselves instead of others?

Q: Which laws should we obey?

JUSTICE

Suggestions for Critical ReadingPage 157

• Get into your groups• Divide up the questions in

the “Critical Reading” section of the Thoreau essay.

• We will reconvene to discuss the homework

HOMEWORK

Read A World of Ideas: Henry David Thoreau "Civil Disobedience" (133-157)

Post #25 Questions (TBD) for Critical Reading: (page 157)

Post #26 QHQ Thoreau