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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. What is Socrates' second defense against the charge that he is corrupting youth?

2. What nationality was Socrates?

3. What does Socrates say about the accusation that he is engaged in scientific pursuits?

4. What is prophecy?

5. Why does Socrates believe his oratorical skill is superior to his opponents in his trial?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the Euthyphro, in general terms?

2. Who are the characters of Euthyphro? What is the setting?

3. What first definition of piety is provided in Euthyphro? What does the character providing the definition cite as an example that proves his definition?

4. What is Socrates' second response to the charge that he has corrupted Athens' youth?

5. How does Euthyphro respond to Socrates' counter of his second definition of piety? What is the result of the conversation?

6. What is Socrates' first response to the charge that he has corrupted Athens' youth?

7. What does Socrates believe to be the central question of life, as revealed in Apology? How should one pursue or answer this question?

8. Why is Socrates charged with corrupting the youth? Why do the youth follow his philosophy and ideas?

9. What is the nature of the legal troubles the characters in Euthyphro are involved in?

10. What flaw does Socrates then find in the reasoning he laid out in previous Question #9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pheidippides is a central character of The Clouds.

1) What does Pheidippides represent in the larger context of Athenian society?

2) What effect does Socrates have on Pheidippides? How does Pheidippides change once he enters Socrates' Thinkery?

3) What is the nature of the rift between Strepsiades and Pheidippides? Which side does Aristophanes come down on? What sin(s) has Pheidippides committed by the end of the play?

Essay Topic 2

Do a comparative analysis of Apology and Crito.

1) Can the character of Socrates be said to be different between the two dialogues? Why or why not?

2) How is Socrates' conception of the law and justice different between the two dialogues?

3) Compare how Socrates believes one should live one's life in Apology, versus how Socrates believes one should live one's life in Crito.

Essay Topic 3

In Apology, Socrates sets up a conflict between science and religion.

1) Why are science and religion in conflict, at least in the world of Athens, according to Socrates?

2) What danger does science pose to Athenian society? Why are scientists often accused of atheism in this society?

3) What compels Socrates to pursue trains of thought that could be said to resemble science?

4) How does Socrates, in his Apology defense, reconcile science and religion? Can the two coexist?

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