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

2. After the verdict, Socrates warns the Athenian jury that________.

3. What assertion is made by Socrates when he responds to Adeimantus' point?

4. Which one of the following scenarios, according to Socrates, would most likely give rise to a tyrannical government?

5. How does Socrates regard an oligarchy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which trumps the other, according to Socrates, the laws of Athens or the gods?

2. Why is the tyrannical man the most miserable, according to Socrates?

3. Why does Socrates think the Sophists are evil?

4. Why are poets dangerous, according to Socrates?

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

6. If one cannot live like a philosopher, what does Socrates think he should do?

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

8. What does the cave metaphor mean?

9. Why does Socrates think that the forms of government are like forms in the human soul?

10. Describe Crito's and Socrates' relationship. Why is this important to the dialogue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Does Socrates "learning as a recollection of old knowledge" thesis in Meno help prove his argument for the immortal soul in Phaedo? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In the first book of The Republic, Socrates seems more confused about justice and what it actually means, but by Apology it seems that Socrates has a clearly picture of justice. Compare/contrast these two viewpoints. What has changed in Socrates' mind? What does this say about Plato's philosophy?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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