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The Ancient Greeks and Their Ideas on Human Values by Art Kane, M.A. ClassroomActivities Classroom discussion and activities will focus on the positions of the four philosophers. To aid discussion, students should be given time to think about the questions and to jot down their ideas before the discussions begin. Activity #1. Ends and Means: Just What Can be Justified? Review the basic points of the philosophy of Socrates (Refer to main text of module.). Lead a classroom discussion based upon the following scenario: A person wants to have a newer car because their present car is in need of repairs. In order to pay for a newer car, the person must sell the present one. In order to sell the present car at a good price, the person cannot reveal to potential buyer that the car has need of repairs If the sale depends on not revealing the need for repairs, is this using a wrong means to achieve a good end (the sale of the older car)? Ask students to write a short position paper on the issue of plagiarism. Is plagiarism, copying someone else’s paper, or presenting an internet article as your own, ever justified? Can we agree that plagiarism shows a lack of respect for one’s own ability? Activity #2: Personal responsibility: Think Before You Leap With students review Plato’s definition of the human soul. Then ask the students to imagine a charioteer with two horses pulling his two-wheel chariot. Does Plato’s example of the charioteer ring true, with our reason having to control our emotions and desires? Is this not the bottom line to exercising personal responsibility for all our actions? Ask students to list five examples of when they might have acted out of anger. After thinking carefully about what they did, have them decide how they would have acted differently if they had used reason first. Ask them to describe their “reasoned” responses in a second column. Activity # 3. Relativism: Classroom Discussion Compare the philosophies of Aristotle and Thrasymachus. Then ask the students to consider if a community can have order if everyone is allowed to follow his own view of what is right and wrong without regard to standards of behavior common in society? Ask students to discuss what moral standards exist in their community. Summarize suggesting that each individual must choose how he/she is going act. Ask students if they are free to choose to act in a way that is contrary to what are the moral standards accepted by society? 4. Case Study This case can be given to the students as a handout so that they have a clear idea of all the details. Ask the students to write a short essay stating what they believe the professor should do and why. A university professor has had a star player on the football team as a student in his math class. Mildly stated, the student is mathematically challenged in spite of the professor having spent numerous hours giving him extra tutoring. Now the big game of the season is approaching in which this star player is being counted on to lead the team to a win against their big rival. If the team wins, they will be chosen to play in a major bowl game. Furthermore, the team has a very dedicated following among the alumni of the university who will be most disappointed if their team loses the big game—a loss that will likely result in their disappointment being demonstrated by a decrease in alumni contributions. The problem is that this star player earned far below a passing grade in his final math exam and, if it is recorded, will make him ineligible to play in the game. His professor knows if he awards the grade the student has earned he will be ineligible to play. The result will be that the team will probably lose their big game, the alumni and, probably other faculty members, as well as the administration dependent on alumni support, will be displeased and blame the professor for not allowing the student a passing grade in light of his importance. Furthermore, the professor, who is not tenured, could be risking the loss of his job at the university. What should the professor do? Explain your reasons.

The Ancient Greeks and Their Ideas on Human Values

by Art Kane, M.A.

ClassroomActivities

Classroom discussion and activities will focus on the positions of the four philosophers. To aid discussion, students should be given time to think about the questions and to jot down their ideas before the discussions begin.

Activity #1. Ends and Means: Just What Can be Justified?
Review the basic points of the philosophy of Socrates (Refer to main text of module.).
Lead a classroom discussion based upon the following scenario:
A person wants to have a newer car because their present car is in need of repairs. In
order to pay for a newer car, the person must sell the present one. In order to sell the present
car at a good price, the person cannot reveal to potential buyer that the car has need of repairs
If the sale depends on not revealing the need for repairs, is this using a wrong means to achieve
a good end (the sale of the older car)?
Ask students to write a short position paper on the issue of plagiarism. Is plagiarism,
copying someone else’s paper, or presenting an internet article as your own, ever justified?
Can we agree that plagiarism shows a lack of respect for one’s own ability?

Activity #2: Personal responsibility: Think Before You Leap

With students review Plato’s definition of the human soul. Then ask the students to
imagine a charioteer with two horses pulling his two-wheel chariot. Does Plato’s example of the
charioteer ring true, with our reason having to control our emotions and desires? Is this not the
bottom line to exercising personal responsibility for all our actions?
Ask students to list five examples of when they might have acted out of anger. After
thinking carefully about what they did, have them decide how they would have acted differently
if they had used reason first. Ask them to describe their “reasoned” responses in a second
column.

Activity # 3. Relativism: Classroom Discussion

Compare the philosophies of Aristotle and Thrasymachus. Then ask the students to
consider if a community can have order if everyone is allowed to follow his own view of what is
right and wrong without regard to standards of behavior common in society? Ask students to
discuss what moral standards exist in their community. Summarize suggesting that each
individual must choose how he/she is going act. Ask students if they are free to choose to act in
a way that is contrary to what are the moral standards accepted by society?

4. Case Study

This case can be given to the students as a handout so that they have a clear idea of all
the details.
Ask the students to write a short essay stating what they believe the professor should do
and why.
A university professor has had a star player on the football team as a student in his math
class. Mildly stated, the student is mathematically challenged in spite of the professor having
spent numerous hours giving him extra tutoring.
Now the big game of the season is approaching in which this star player is being
counted on to lead the team to a win against their big rival. If the team wins, they will be chosen
to play in a major bowl game. Furthermore, the team has a very dedicated following among the
alumni of the university who will be most disappointed if their team loses the big game—a loss
that will likely result in their disappointment being demonstrated by a decrease in alumni
contributions.
The problem is that this star player earned far below a passing grade in his final math
exam and, if it is recorded, will make him ineligible to play in the game. His professor knows if
he awards the grade the student has earned he will be ineligible to play. The result will be that
the team will probably lose their big game, the alumni and, probably other faculty members, as
well as the administration dependent on alumni support, will be displeased and blame the
professor for not allowing the student a passing grade in light of his importance. Furthermore,
the professor, who is not tenured, could be risking the loss of his job at the university. What
should the professor do? Explain your reasons.