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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. Before Socrates delivers his speech, he cross- examines Agathon about which of the following?

2. Ion is renowned for his ability to recite which famous poet?

3. What does Socrates tell Ion about a person who can recite poetry well?

4. According to Socrates, what happens when "one [is] mistaken in his judgment, and harms his friends, and helps his enemies, unknowingly"?

5. At whose house does the Symposium take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Socrates distinguish knowledge known through art from knowledge known through inspiration?

2. What does Glaucon argue for?

3. What is Socrates' plan for the familial arrangement of the republic?

4. How should soldiers, according to Socrates, be trained in the ideal republic?

5. What does Cephalus tell Socrates about the key to enjoying old age?

6. What is the purpose of Aristophanes' myth about men and women once being unified and then split apart? How does he end his story?

7. What is justice, according to Socrates?

8. How does Socrates convince his interlocutors that a woman can do any job that a man can?

9. Where, according to Socrates, does virtue reside? How does virtue relate to the dichotomy of opinion and knowledge?

10. Why aren't the soldiers in Socrates' republic well compensated?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Socrates plan for his city's rulers to not be corrupted by power? Do you think his plan is practical?

Essay Topic 2

According to Socrates in Book IV of The Republic, justice is a proper organization of the faculties of the soul such that each part is fulfilling its own proper role and not usurping the functions of others. Do you agree or disagree with this definition? Do you think Socrates equivocates this definition in other dialogues? Give examples either modern or ancient where you can test Socrates view of justice.

Essay Topic 3

How does Plato, in the Great Dialogues, separate himself from Socrates? To answer this you may note one major difference between Socrates' and Plato's ideas. To what to do you attribute this disagreement? What does this tell you about the relationship between Plato and Socrates?

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