Spring 2004 Mr. Strong, Mr Leitch, Mr. Lyon, Mr. Selby, Ms Wong

POLITICAL SCIENCE 13

POWER AND JUSTICE

First Paper Topic

The paper is due in class on Monday, April 26. Late papers without a valid excuse will be penalized 1/2 grade a day.

Please write a paper on the following topic. Length 4-6 pages (1192-1785 words).

• Double space the paper leaving at least 1 inch margins all around.
• KEEP a copy.
• STAPLE the paper in the top left hand corner.
• Place the name of your section leader in some obvious space.
• You should support your argument with reference to the texts. Do not cite more then two sequential sentences at any give place without good reason and please use some easy method of footnoting so that the citation can be found. (e.g. use Stefanus numbers with Plato, or "Koestler, p 173").

TOPIC

At the end of Crito, Socrates refuses to escape from Athens, preferring to allow the death sentence imposed on him by the Court to be carried out. By the end of Darkness at Noon, Rubashov admits guilt to the crimes of which he has been accused, for which he is sentenced to death and he is executed.

Write an essay in which you,

first, compare and contrast the reasons that each of them have for accepting the verdict of the court;

second, give your judgment on why Rubashov accepts his guilt;

third, give your judgement as to whether Socrates was right in the reasons that he gave for not escaping.

NB: when you are asked to "give your judgment" you are asked to give reasons for why you hold a particular opinion. We are as or more interested in the persuasiveness of your reasons as we are in the opinion you hold.

Draw upon the reading, including the Pitkin article, as you need to.