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Classics Journal Prompt #8 Period 1: Calculus Socrates, Plato, and Classmate are waiting for class to start.

. Teacher is pooting around in the background. Socrates: This is stupid. The most advanced math you need is geometry! I'd rather be sitting in a cave gazing at my belly button. Plato: writing furiously 7:18 AM, April 4, 2013, Socrates proclaimed that geometry was the most advanced math necessary. Socrates: And how can I trust this teacher when I know they're being paid to teach? How do I know he's not just in it for the money? Classmate: Yeah, and your dad does masonry because he just loves rocks. You think you're too good for us because you're loaded? Socrates: No, no! Money comes from virtue, not the other way around! Teacher: Hey, what's going on over there? Classmate: Socrates said that you're only teaching because you want the money! Teacher: Socrates, down to Mr. Boyle's room. You're corrupting the youth. Exit Socrates Plato: What kind of place would exile someone for living by their principles? I can't work like this. I'm leaving. Exit Plato Period 3: Free Period Plato and Student are sitting at a table in the library. Plato: ...and then he kicked him out of class! Student: Mhm. Just, ah, let me finish sketching this apple. I've got Studio Art next period. Plato: Art, bah humbug! It's merely mimesis! It would be better to just bring in the apple itself. Or you know what would really knock their socks off? Go in and just give them a description of the essence of the apple. Student: Uh huh. Enter Aristotle Aristotle: So I heard Socrates got in a fight with a teacher today. Was that because the teacher said mentioned his father? Plato: That's nothing but belief and conjecture. Use your head next time. You know he can't keep his mouth shut. It was only a matter of time before he ticked off a snitcher. Aristotle: You're going off about your Hierarchy again, aren't you. Why can't you just focus on what's here and not on something that you can never achieve? If I was doing an in-class write, I wouldn't agonize over one paragraph to try and make it perfect. That would be a waste of time. Enter Librarian Librarian: Guys, guys, guys, you're being too loud. I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Exeunt

Lunch Aristotle is sitting by himself at lunch. Aristotle: Consider these mashed potatoes. What defines them? Essence and potentiality. The essence of these mashed potatoes are the potato atoms and butter atoms that went into it. And the potential outcomes for these mashed potatoes are to be eaten or to be thrown away. But wait, these mashed potatoes are themselves an actuality of the potatoes that went into them. The potatoes had the potential to become hash browns, or fries, or baked potatoes instead, but ended up being formed into mashed potatoes because the lunch schedule demanded it... Passerby: No wonder he sits alone. Period 7: History Socrates, Plato, Teacher, and others are in history class. Socrates: What if characters from history were to be magically transported to the present day? It would be just like my cave, wouldn't it? At first, the new technology would overwhelm them, having only seen the predecessors that existed in their time. They would think of the new technology in terms of their own; a car as a horseless carriage, a computer as a metal brain. But, after a difficult process of learning new concepts, they would come to understand the new technology and accept it as reality. Teacher: Excellent contribution, Socrates. 100/100 for participation. Plato: aside He came up with some wonderful bull for that participation grade. Still, I feel the need to write it down. People say he and I have an unhealthy friendship. Some people back at home even think I'm making him up. Bollocks, I say, this man is a genius. Writes furiously After school: Debate Club Socrates is mentoring some squirrelly frosh Socrates: You need to butter them up first. Sound interested in their argument. Slip in some subtle compliments. Then, as they're explaining their argument, interject with little questions that lead them with small steps of logic towards your side. Slow and steady does it, until bam! they're suddenly agreeing with what you originally said. Of course they won't be too pleased when you point that out, so don't be afraid to hammer your point home. In the end, they may still think that they have won, but that's not important Freshman 1: But what about time limits? Freshman 2: And what about driving your enemies before you and hearing the lamentations of their women? Socrates: Silly constraints and an overactive ego! What's important is that the audience thinks you've won.

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