Plato, Republic, Books II.358c-362d and VI.489d-497a.

1. What parts of these two excerpts from the Republic bear on empirical anthropology and what parts bear on philosophical anthropology: "human nature" v. "the nature of man."

2. How does Plato describe the behavior of most people? Is his description favorable or unfavorable?

3. How does Plato discuss the potential behavior of some individuals—the philosophers?

4. Can everyone become a philosopher if they really try and get the proper support? In other words, is being a philosopher our natural, human end?