Plato's Life

Question 1

When did Plato Live?

Answer 1

427-347BCE

Question 2

What Type of family did Plato come from.

Answer 2

Plato came from an Aristocratic Family.

Question 3

What was the name of the war that Plato lived through and left Athens ‘in a state of turmoil’?

Answer 3

The Peloponnesian War.
(431-404 BCE)

Question 4

Where did Plato Live?

Answer 4

In Athens during Peloponnesian War

Question 5

Who was Socrates?

Answer 5

Socrates was a phlisopher. People say that he founded of the Western Philosophy.

Question 6

When did Socrates die?

Answer 6

399BCE.

Question 7

Who were Plato’s Siblings

Answer 7

1. Glaucon
2. Potone
3. Adeimantus
4. Antiphon

Question 8

Who did Plato tutor, where?

Answer 8

King Dionysius I’s Son, Sicily.

Question 9

Was tutoring the king’s son successful?

Answer 9

No, the son found mathematics useless.

Question 10

What was Plato’s Aim

Answer 10

To Guide Athens to Democracy

Question 11

4 Facts on Plato

Answer 11

1. Fought three Campaigns
2. Spent 10 years as a soldier
3. Travelled Widely
4. Tutored King Dionysius I’s son.

Question 12

What is Democracy?

Answer 12

Rule by many people.

Question 13

What is Oligarchy?

Answer 13

Rule by few people over many people.

Question 14

What did Socrates teach Plato?

Answer 14

That politicians and rulers only want power, what they should be doing is debating what true justice is, what goodness is and what is meant by fairness.

Question 15

What is the name of Plato’s University?

Answer 15

The Academy.

Question 16

What does Socrates say?

Answer 16

That without philosophy ‘the unexamined life is not worth living.

Question 17

What is the role of the philosopher kings?

Answer 17

They are people who will know real goodness from illusionary goodness. They are the only ones who are able to rule everyone fairly and justly.

Question 18

What was Plato’s Book The Republic about?

Answer 18

It is about philosopher ruler and the role of women and family in society.

Question 19

What are the three allegories in The Republic?

Answer 19

The Son
The Divided Line
The Cave

Question 20

Why is ‘The Journey’ emotionally difficult?

Answer 20

It will question everything you believe and you will find out a lot of what you thought was true is false.

Question 21

What is the skilful thinker?

Answer 21

People who want to know what is the very best and perfect form of goodness and justice.

Question 22

What was the name of the book Plato wrote?

Answer 22

The Republic.

Question 23

Why did Plato write The Republic?

Answer 23

so the students of the academy would study it for several years.

Question 24

What are the three allegories Plato wrote?

Answer 24

The Sun
The Divided Line
The Cave

Question 25

Why was Socrates killed?

Answer 25

Socrates’ method of questioning everything and forcing the young men of Athens to think for themselves was seen as a rejection of the gods (impeity) and the traditions of Athens (treason).

Question 26

What is the purpose of Plato’s Academy?

Answer 26

To educate future leader to be skilful thinkers who has to want to know what is the very best and perfect form of justice.

Question 27

Who were Sophists?

Answer 27

Philosophers who have become very popular among rich Greek families. They thought that to become a political leader, all that mattered was that one could speak well in public by giving clever speeches.