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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. According to Socrates, where would the republic's leaders live?

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

3. To illustrate one facet of his argument, Socrates employs the help of which character?

4. Complete the comparison: philosophers have wisdom whereas common men have _______

5. In Ion, Socrates is concerned primarily with which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is the crucial difference, according to Socrates, between the common man and the philosopher?

5. What is the best way, according to Socrates, that people not be given false impressions about the gods?

6. What would happen, according to Socrates, if a cobbler exercised the role of a leader?

7. Whom does Socrates think is to be chosen to rule the city and why?

8. What does Diotima teach Socrates about love? How does this compare to Aristophanes' view?

9. What is justice, according to Socrates?

10. How is the story of the Symposium framed? How does this relate to the cultural values of the Greeks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is Socrates a tragic hero? If yes, what are his hubrius and harmartia? If no, why not?

Essay Topic 2

The Republic discusses many grandiose themes such as knowledge, friendship, kinship, love, justice, economics, government, and religion at length. Choose a topic, along the same lines, that Plato missed in his dialogues. See if you can argue, based on text you've already read, how Plato or Socrates would weigh in on the issue. You may use current political debates (health care, euthanasia, abortion) as your topic if you desire. You do not need to to this, however.

Essay Topic 3

In Phaedo Socrates promotes the idea that philosophy is preparing for dying, and that a true philosopher should not fear death but welcome it. Would Socrates then be able to justify suicide as a good thing? Why or why not? Do you think Socrates commits suicide? Why or Why not?

(see the answer keys)

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