Unit 11: Plato and Aristotle: Study Questions Flashcards
Q: Why was Sparta unable to dominate Greece in the century after the Peloponnesian Wars?
A: Sparta’s dominance was short-lived due to military overreach, internal strife, and the rise of Thebes and Macedon. Its reliance on a rigid military system and lack of political flexibility contributed to its decline.
Q: What was the role of Athenian dicasteries in the fourth century?
A: Athenian dicasteries (courts) continued to serve as a key part of the democratic system, with large citizen juries deciding legal cases. They were important in political life, influencing decisions on both domestic and military matters.
Q: Why was homicide treated as a special crime?
A: Homicide was seen as an offense against both the state and divine law, carrying serious religious and moral consequences. It was treated with special care, and trials often involved purification rituals.
Q: What are some of the ways that Athens became even more democratic in the fourth century?
A: Athens introduced pay for public officeholders and jurors, empowering poorer citizens to participate in politics. Reforms also focused on making government positions more accessible to all citizens.
Q: Why did civil strife within the Greek poleis become a greater problem after the Peloponnesian Wars?
A: The devastation of the war weakened traditional power structures and led to social and political fragmentation. Economic strain and shifting alliances contributed to rising internal conflicts.
Q: What types of work were frowned upon by the Greeks and why?
A: Manual labor and commerce were often frowned upon, as they were seen as unworthy of free citizens. The Greeks valued intellectual pursuits, public service, and military excellence over such work.
Q: What are the main features and limits of Athenian democracy in the fourth century?
A: Athenian democracy involved direct participation by citizens, with major decisions made by public assembly and courts. However, it excluded women, slaves, and non-citizens, limiting its inclusivity.
Q: Why was Plato critical of Athenian democracy?
A: Plato criticized Athenian democracy for allowing unqualified citizens to make important decisions, resulting in chaos and the rise of demagogues. He believed governance should be led by philosopher-kings.
Q: When Plato’s Socrates declares that philosophers should rule the ideal state, what does he mean?
A: Socrates argues that philosophers, with their knowledge of the Forms, can make decisions based on wisdom and justice, not personal gain or popular opinion, ensuring the ideal state.
Q: What seems to be the difference between knowledge and opinion?
A: Knowledge, according to Plato, is based on true understanding of the Forms, while opinion is based on imperfect sensory experiences and can be misleading or false.
Q: Summarize the simile of the ship of state used by Plato’s Socrates to explain the role of philosopher-kings.
A: Socrates compares the ideal state to a ship, where the philosopher-king is the knowledgeable captain, while the people are the sailors who need guidance. Without a wise ruler, the state is likely to be steered into chaos.
Q: Plato summarized his theory of Forms when discussing philosopher-kings. How does he now use the simile of the sun to explain the Form of the Good?
A: Plato uses the sun as a metaphor for the Form of the Good, saying it illuminates and makes knowledge possible, just as the sun makes physical sight possible. The Form of the Good enables true understanding of all things.
Q: Summarize the image of the divided line to explain the continuum between knowledge and opinion.
A: The divided line represents levels of knowledge, with the lowest being mere opinion and the highest being true knowledge of the Forms. It shows how human understanding progresses from shadowy belief to clear, objective knowledge.
Q: How does the simile provide a schema for the progress of education for citizens?
A: The divided line suggests that education moves from belief and imagination (shadows) to reasoning and knowledge (the Forms). It illustrates how citizens must be guided from ignorance to enlightenment through philosophical education.
Q: Summarize the parable of the cave and how it explains the theory of Forms.
A: The Allegory of the Cave illustrates how prisoners mistake shadows for reality, symbolizing how most people live in ignorance. The philosopher, like the freed prisoner, sees the true Forms beyond the shadows, understanding the true nature of reality.
Q: How does the parable set out the role or duty of the philosopher?
A: The philosopher’s duty is to seek the truth and enlighten others, even if it means returning to the cave of ignorance. Philosophers must guide society toward true knowledge, regardless of resistance.
Q: What are some ways that Plato drew from the philosophical tradition of the Presocratics and Sophists who were discussed in the previous unit?
A: Plato built on the Presocratics’ interest in fundamental substances and the Sophists’ focus on knowledge and ethics, but he rejected their relativism. He introduced his Theory of Forms as a response to their concerns about knowledge and truth.
Q: What are some ways that Plato was different from the Presocratics and Sophists?
A: Unlike the Presocratics, who sought physical explanations of the world, Plato focused on abstract, ideal forms. He also disagreed with the Sophists, who believed truth was relative, asserting that true knowledge is absolute and based on the Forms.
Q: Briefly summarize Aristotle’s life and interests.
A: Aristotle, a student of Plato, was a teacher to Alexander the Great. He founded the Lyceum and wrote extensively on logic, ethics, politics, and natural science. His philosophy was based on empirical observation and categorization of knowledge.
Q: What are some of the similarities between Aristotle and the Greek philosophers who came before him?
A: Like the Presocratics, Aristotle was concerned with the nature of reality and the search for underlying principles. Like Plato, he believed in the importance of virtue and ethics but differed on how to approach them.
Q: How did Aristotle’s philosophy and style of writing differ from that of his teacher, Plato?
A: Aristotle focused on empirical observation and practical reasoning, whereas Plato emphasized abstract forms and ideals. Aristotle’s style was more systematic, categorizing knowledge into different fields such as biology, ethics, and politics.
Q: How do you think that Aristotle’s personal background and connections influenced his interests and way of thinking?
A: Aristotle’s experience as a student of Plato and his time spent tutoring Alexander the Great likely shaped his philosophical approach, leading him to focus on practical knowledge, observation, and the connection between theory and real-world applications.
