"The Man Who Asked Questions" Flashcards
Where did Socrates live?
Athens, ancient Greece.
What war did Socrates fight in?
The Peloponnesian war.
What is a Sophist?
A teacher of “speech-making” or philosophy.
Was Socrates a sophist?
Yes.
Philosopher derives from the greek meaning:
“Love of wisdom.”
Did Socrates ever write down his philosophies?
No, he thought talking was far better.
Who was the person who wrote down Socrates’s conversations?
Plato.
Who was Plato?
He was Socrates’s star pupil and was known for his Platonic Dialogues.
What is one of Plato’s more iconic analogies?
Plato’s “Cave analogy”, describing people trapped in a cave, only being able to see shadows of the real world.
What was Plato’s idea of “The Republic”?
Philosophers were at the top of the hierarchy, below them soldiers, then lastly the working class.
The idea was anti-democratic, and would “keep the people under control by a combination of lies and force.”
What was the fifth-century republic like?
Contrary to Plato’s republic, It was a democracy, where everyone but women and slaves could not vote.
What age was Socrates taken to court?
70.
How much of the jury’s vote was in favor of Socrates being guilty during his trial?
Just over half.
What was Socrates sentenced to?
The death penalty, via poison.
Did Plato carry on Socrates’s teachings after his death?
Yes.
Who was one of Plato’s most impressive students?
Aristotle.
How many people made up the jury for Socrates’s trail?
501 Citizens.
How much did Socrates charge for his teachings?
Nothing, he didn’t charge people for his services.
Do some people think Socrates’s ideas were actually Plato’s?
Yes. It is speculated that Plato could have been using the name “Socrates” as a medium to convey his thoughts, more of a character that Plato made up essentially.
What poison was used to execute Socrates?
Hemlock, a poisonous plant with small white flower buds growing from it’s stem.
What percent of Athens citizens could actually vote in the fifth-century?
Around 10%.
Why did Socrates refuse to talk his way out of the execution or run away before he was to be executed?
He’d rather die than live a life that isn’t his. “He had an inner voice that told him to keep questioning everything, and he could not betray it.” - Page 7, The Man Who Asked Questions.
Who was Socrates against in the Poloponessian war?
The Spartans, who were fighting the Greeks which Socrates was sided with.
What were the written conversations between Socrates and other people called?
Platonic Dialogues.
What was Socrates accused of when brought to trial?
That Socrates was neglecting the Athenian gods and introducing new gods of his own, and that he was encouraging people to turn against the Athenian government and its authorities.
VOCAB BELOW \/ \/ \/
- Republic
A state in which power is held by the people and their elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.
- Oracle
A priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity.
- Sibyl
A woman in ancient time supposed to utter the oracles and prophecies of a god.
- Podgy
Somewhat fat; chubby.
- Philosophy
The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.
- Abstract
Consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else.
- Profoundly
To a profound extent; extremely.
- Shabby
In poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care.
- Disconcerting
Causing one to feel unsettled.
