plato test

Question 1

Who is Socrates?

Answer 1

Athenian philosopher; killed by restored democracy

Question 2

Who wrote about Socrates?

Answer 2

Plato, Aristophanes, Xenophon

Question 3

who are the Sophists? What did they believe?

Answer 3

intellectuals & worldly-wise experts, interested in rhetoric (art of speaking); relativists, didn’t believe in objective truth “man is the measure of all things.”

Question 4

What is Socratic irony?

Answer 4

when Socrates takes an expert at their word as knowing something; at the end of the convo. he is the teacher & teaches the expert of their own ignorance

Question 5

What do the early dialogues of Plato focus on?

Answer 5

Ti Esti Questions; “what is” questions

Question 6

what was the Peloponnesian War

Answer 6

massive war between Athens (& it’s allies) vs. the Spartans

Question 7

Who won the Peloponnesian War?

Answer 7

the Spartans

Question 8

What was the Periclean democracy?

Answer 8

a direct democracy in Athens led by the general & statesman Pericles

Question 9

What was the Thirty?

Answer 9

a violent oligarchy created by the Spartans to rule over Athens.

Question 10

What is the court of the King Archon?

Answer 10

Religious cases (heresy).

Question 11

Who is Euthyphro? What’s his profession?

Answer 11

fictional character; prophet, they know the will of the gods & they can see the future

Question 12

What are the two charges against Socrates?

Answer 12

impiety & corruption of the youth

Question 13

why is Euthyphro at the law court?

Answer 13

prosecuting his father for killing his servant

Question 14

who is Meletus?

Answer 14

Socrates’ main accuser

Question 15

first definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?

Answer 15

a) prosecuting his father for wrongdoing
b) example, not a definition

Question 16

second definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?

Answer 16

a) what is dear to the gods (or what the gods love)
b) the gods love different things

Question 17

third definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?

Answer 17

a) what all the gods love
b) do the gods love piety because it’s pious, or because it’s godly?

Question 18

fourth definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?

Answer 18

a) that part of justice which is care for the gods
b) what do you mean care? how can one care for a perfect human being?

Question 19

fifth definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?

Answer 19

a) knowing how to pray & sacrifice
b) more examples, does not answer the problems of the other definitions

Question 20

what happens at the end of the Euthyphro dialogue?

Answer 20

Euthyphro walks away

Question 21

At the beginning of the Apology, which person does Socrates say he fears the most?

Answer 21

Aristophanes

Question 22

why does Socrates say he’s not a sophist?

Answer 22

doesn’t charge money & he’s committed to truth

Question 23

which god does the Oracle of Delphi represent?

Answer 23

Apollo

Question 24

what does the Oracle tell Chaerephon?

Answer 24

there is no man wiser than Socrates

Question 25

how does Socrates refute Meletus’ charges?

Answer 25

a) Corruption: WHO improves the youth? Meletus says everyone practically. That’s absurd.
Meletus says Socrates DELIBERATELY corrupts the youth. This is also absurd, because, for Socrates, no one KNOWINGLY does wrong
b) Impiety: Socrates asks Meletus if he thinks he’s an atheist. Meletus says yes, and that Socrates believes that the sun is a rock. Socrates says Anaxagoras isn’t on trial, and he believes in spirits (like his Daemon). Spirits are children of gods.

Question 26

why does Socrates compare himself to a gadfly & the city of Athens to a horse?

Answer 26

he compares himself to a pestering insect as the conscience of Athens. Athens is compared to a lazy horse who has stopped doing anything great

Question 27

what is the verdict of Socrates’ trial?

Answer 27

guilty

Question 28

what are Socrates’ suggestions for his punishment? (name all 3)

Answer 28

1) treat him like an olympian athelete
2) let him go
3) pay them 30 Mina

Question 29

what is the ultimate sentence of the court? what is the method of execution?

Answer 29

death, via hemlock

Question 30

why does Socrates say we shouldn’t fear death? name 2 reasons.

Answer 30

1) death is something we don’t know about; to fear what we don’t know is arrogant
2) either death is eternal sleep, or a virtuous person like Socrates will live in, go to heaven, & philosophize in the afterlife

Question 31

who is the dog of Egypt?

Answer 31

Anubis