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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does the account of Socrates' death say were present beside Socrates' friends?

2. What question does Socrates ask Simmias in 62d-66a?

3. According to Socrates, what do the ones who love wisdom desire?

4. What does Socrates say about philosophers at the start of 62d -66a?

5. According to Socrates, what does the philosopher hate most?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Socrates say about the gods at the end of 57a-62c?

2. What does Socrates say should be the one goal of the philosopher?

3. What belief of Simmias' does Socrates question?

4. What does Echecrates ask Phaedo at the beginning of "Phaedo"?

5. What does Simmias admit about the Just, Beautiful and the Good at the end of 62d-66a?

6. What does Socrates believe about freedom and what does this mean for the philosopher

7. What does Socrates claim are not the great goods of life?

8. When Socrates was on trial, what happened to his wife?

9. What should those who love learning do and why?

10. What did Socrates tell Cebes about his dream?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the analogy used in "Phaedo" for thinking that the soul is like the attunement of a musical instrument. Discuss whether the arguments are convincing and what conclusions can be drawn from this analogy. Students may use the text and secondary sources to support the discussion.

Essay Topic 2

Phaedo gives an interpretation and examples of the argument from opposites. Take death and explain how the argument from opposites is meant to show that the soul coheres after death. Analyze the potential problems that arise from this argument and determine whether or not they were properly reconciled. Use the text to support your statements.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the setting used in the Socratic dialogues presented in Plato's "Phaedo". How does setting affect the means of argument? The content? Why is the setting important?

(see the answer keys)

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