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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is a democracy?
(a) Rule by the elite.
(b) Rule by the military.
(c) Rule by the rich.
(d) Rule by the poor.

2. Whom does Socrates think is the fourth (and least) happiest social class of man in the republic?
(a) The king.
(b) The democratic man.
(c) The aristocrat.
(d) The tyrant.

3. Socrates firmly believes that poetry _____________.
(a) Is philosophy of the heart.
(b) Is instrumental in helping the common man understand larger issues.
(c) Tends to prevent men from leading good lives.
(d) Must be philosophy to be considered poetry.

4. How does Socrates regard a democracy?
(a) Socrates is only for a democracy if it has a bipartisan senate.
(b) Socrates thinks that the people should be able to choose who leads them.
(c) Socrates thinks democracy is the worst form of government.
(d) Socrates thinks it is the best form of government in all cases.

5. What is Crito's relationship to Socrates?
(a) Crito is a Sophist, one of Socrates' enemies.
(b) Crito is a jail guard.
(c) Crito is Socrates' cousin
(d) Crito is a wealthy disciple of Socrates.

Short Answer Questions

1. One theme that is present in Book X, and in other dialogues is______________.

2. What is Socrates' view on the nature of death, particularly his own?

3. When Phaedo first arrives at the prison, what is Socrates doing?

4. How does Crito plan to aid Socrates?

5. According to Socrates in Book VII, to what should all philosophers aspire?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are poets dangerous, according to Socrates?

2. Why does Socrates think that aspiring philosophers should be instructed in dialectic only at the end of their educations?

3. Why does Socrates think that the philosopher is always the happiest man in the state?

4. What does the cave metaphor mean?

5. Describe Socrates view of death and its role for the philosopher.

6. What happens to the soul after it is dead, according to Socrates?

7. What, does Socrates think, is the best form of government?

8. What is the ultimate goal of the philosopher, as explained by Socrates in Book VI? How does he attain this?

9. What are the five tell-tale traits of an aspiring philosopher, according to Socrates?

10. How is the entire Apology an example of Socratic wisdom in practice?

(see the answer keys)

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