Religion And Philosophy

Question 1

What ideology do the Presocratics reject?

Answer 1

Gods may intervene in all aspects of the world, from weather to mundane particulars of human life

Question 2

How did the Presocratics see the world?

Answer 2

As a Kosmos, an ordered natural arrangement

Question 3

What is the example given by Xenophanes on the Kosmos?

Answer 3

“She whom they call Iris, this too is by nature a cloud” Iris the Rainbow

Question 4

Thales of Miletus (4)

Answer 4

Famous engineer, geometer and astronomer
Natural philosopher
Scientific
‘Water is essential to life’

Question 5

Xenophanes of Colophon (4)

Answer 5

Outspoken critic against the traditional gods
Believed that the stars originated from clouds in the sea
Criticised Hesiod and Homer (amoral gods)
Henotheistic

Question 6

Thucydides (4)

Answer 6

Scientifically explains the symptoms of the plague
Suggested that prayers were futile
The dead were buried with little sanctity from the gods
Sceptical of Oracles

Question 7

The Sophists (5)

Answer 7

Travelling teachers around the Mediterranean offered to teach rhetoric, wisdom and craft for a high rate

Plato- “those who prostitution wisdom”

Produce successful speakers and politicians
Everyman was entitled to his own opinions
Unpopular with traditionalists

Question 8

Two examples of sophists (4)

Answer 8

Hippias- mathematics

Prodicus- linguistics

Question 9

Give two examples of famous writers who critiqued the gods

Answer 9

Euripides and Aristophanes

Question 10

How did Euripides critique the gods?

Answer 10

“If the gods do anything reprehensible, they are not gods” Bellerophon

Question 11

How did Aristophanes critique the gods?

Answer 11

“What Zeus? Do not trifle. There is no Zeus” - line from ‘Clouds’ dialog from Socrates

Question 12

Aristophanes and Euripides work would be performed in the Dionysia- why would this be allowed at a religious festival?

Answer 12

A play- masked to prevent hubris

Comical satire

Question 13

When and where was Socrates born?

Answer 13

Athens, 469 BC (10 years after the Persian wars)

Question 14

What are Socrates main philosophies? (6)

Answer 14

1) ask questions to examine morals
2) virtue couldn’t be taught
3) the gods are superior
4) no one desires evil or knowingly does evil things
5) committing evil acts damages the soul
6) Decisions were influenced by ‘ daimonion’ divine intervention

Socrates is one of the first to bring in morality into philosophy

Question 15

Reasons why Socrates was innocent of impiety (3)

Answer 15

1) he didn’t deny the gods existence
2) be gives the gods higher moral standing to the gods then Hesiod or Homer
3) His ‘Daimonion’ could be interpreted as a omen

Question 16

Reasons why Socrates was found guilty (3+1?)

Answer 16

1) Daimonion could be interpreted as Socrates creating a false god or participating in dark magic
2) Priests were the only ones who could interpret signs
3) Told students they could change their fate through good deeds

+1) Plato Socrates student never discusses Socrates participating in classical piety (festivals and sacrifices)

Question 17

Other reasons why Socrates was feared?

Answer 17

1) Association with Alcibiades (herms and eleusinian mystery)
2) in 441 BC, 400 Athenians attempted an oligarchy but democracy was later restored- some were associates of Socrates
3) 404 BC after defeat of Athens by Sparta, oligarchy of 30 (critias and charmides) later beaten by Democrats

Question 18

What year was Socrates trial?

Answer 18

399 BC

Question 19

How many were on jury?

Answer 19

500

Question 20

Who conducted Socrates defence?

Answer 20

Himself

Question 21

Who’s accounts of Socrates trial do we rely on and who is more reliable? (2)

Answer 21

Xenophanes and Plato

Plato, as Xenophanes was not around for the trial

Question 22

Describes Socrates punishment

Answer 22

1) found guilty, many argued for death but he could of escaped with exile
2) he was asked for a realistic punishment in which he stated a small fine
3) The jury voted for death and Socrates drank Hemlock