20 Mark Questions

Question 1

How controversial were Socrates’ views on gods? - Not very

Answer 1

• He doesn’t openly reject them, has some respect for the traditional religion – visited Delphi to consult an oracle – he does believe in the supernatural because he consulted the oracle.
• Ideas were not unusual - recognises the traditional view of life after death
• Discussion about nature of the gods wasn’t new - Herodotus is presocratic yet he still critiqued the gods.

Question 2

How controversial were Socrates’ views on gods? - Very Controversial

Answer 2

• If they weren’t controversial, he wouldn’t have been put on trial.
• Ideas about divinity would be incompatible with the Homeric image.
• Emphasises a personal sense of the divine goes against the traditional idea of the gods - has his own divine voice - can be seen as making his own dieties.