plato test Flashcards
Who is Socrates?
Athenian philosopher; killed by restored democracy
Who wrote about Socrates?
Plato, Aristophanes, Xenophon
who are the Sophists? What did they believe?
intellectuals & worldly-wise experts, interested in rhetoric (art of speaking); relativists, didn’t believe in objective truth “man is the measure of all things.”
What is Socratic irony?
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
What do the early dialogues of Plato focus on?
Ti Esti Questions; “what is” questions
what was the Peloponnesian War
massive war between Athens (& it’s allies) vs. the Spartans
Who won the Peloponnesian War?
the Spartans
What was the Periclean democracy?
a direct democracy in Athens led by the general & statesman Pericles
What was the Thirty?
a violent oligarchy created by the Spartans to rule over Athens.
What is the court of the King Archon?
Religious cases (heresy).
Who is Euthyphro? What’s his profession?
fictional character; prophet, they know the will of the gods & they can see the future
What are the two charges against Socrates?
impiety & corruption of the youth
why is Euthyphro at the law court?
prosecuting his father for killing his servant
who is Meletus?
Socrates’ main accuser
first definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) prosecuting his father for wrongdoing
b) example, not a definition
second definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) what is dear to the gods (or what the gods love)
b) the gods love different things
third definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) what all the gods love
b) do the gods love piety because it’s pious, or because it’s godly?
fourth definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
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?
fifth definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) knowing how to pray & sacrifice
b) more examples, does not answer the problems of the other definitions
what happens at the end of the Euthyphro dialogue?
Euthyphro walks away
At the beginning of the Apology, which person does Socrates say he fears the most?
Aristophanes
why does Socrates say he’s not a sophist?
doesn’t charge money & he’s committed to truth
which god does the Oracle of Delphi represent?
Apollo
what does the Oracle tell Chaerephon?
there is no man wiser than Socrates
how does Socrates refute Meletus’ charges?
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.
why does Socrates compare himself to a gadfly & the city of Athens to a horse?
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
what is the verdict of Socrates’ trial?
guilty
what are Socrates’ suggestions for his punishment? (name all 3)
1) treat him like an olympian athelete
2) let him go
3) pay them 30 Mina
what is the ultimate sentence of the court? what is the method of execution?
death, via hemlock
why does Socrates say we shouldn’t fear death? name 2 reasons.
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
who is the dog of Egypt?
Anubis
