View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why would candidates for a philosopher-king class in the republic be tested?

2. How does Socrates regard an oligarchy?

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

4. According to Socrates, how should a good philosopher rule?

5. What is a democracy?

Short Essay Questions

1. How can tyranny arise in a democratic state?

2. Characterize the nature of Socrates' speech in his own defense.

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

4. Why does Socrates think it acceptable for the state to make philosophers rule if they are unwilling?

5. What objection does Cebes raise about Socrates view on death?

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

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

8. How does Socrates defend against Meletus' chargers of impiety?

9. Why can't the common man see the world like the philosopher, according to Socrates?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,255 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample