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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 does Socrates claim about his relationship with his students?

2. What is Euthyphro's initial definition of piety?

3. What is the "good life" as defined by Athens law, according to Plato's Apology?

4. What is the subject of Plato's Apology?

5. Which is the second of three Socratic dialogues written by Plato?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the general attitude held by the citizens of Athens toward the characters of Euthyphro?

2. What is the nature of Socrates' comparing himself to Achilles? What is Socrates illustrating with this comparison?

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

4. Why doesn't Socrates wish to be pitied? How does this relate to the fact that he did not bring his family to court with him?

5. How does Socrates use the concept of love to refute the initial definition of piety provided in Euthyphro?

6. What is Socrates' response to the charge that he is impious and/or an atheist?

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

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

9. What distinction does Socrates make between his own speaking style, and that of his accusers?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aristophanes approaches the topic of science versus religion in a different way than Plato. Discuss the nature of this difference, using specific examples from each text. To each author, what harm (if any) does science pose to a society? What is the role of religion in society? What are the dangers (if any) of religion in a society? Can the two peacefully coexist, or must they always be in conflict?

Essay Topic 2

1) What are the exact nature of the charges leveled against Socrates?

2) Why might youth be particularly drawn to Socrates and his philosophy?

3) How does Socrates' reputation contribute to the charges against him?

Essay Topic 3

Provide a context for Plato's Euthyphro, Crito, and Apology. What events do these texts cover? What form are they written in, and what is the structure of this form? What characterization of Socrates does Plato offer in these texts?

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