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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. What does Crito want Socrates to do?

2. With whom does Socrates discuss the education of soldiers and philosophers?

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

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

5. Wise souls, Socrates asserts, will always choose paths of_________.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Socrates say in Book VII that "philosophers don't want to rule"?

3. How can tyranny arise in a democratic state?

4. How does Socrates argue that it is unlawful to break out of prison?

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

6. Why is democracy dangerous, according to Socrates?

7. What does the cave metaphor mean?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is the city that Socrates builds in the The Republic actually feasible? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to justify your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Choose your favorite Sophist and write a paper arguing for his thesis. You may choose "justice is the power of the stronger," or "the unjust life is more rewarding than the just one" or anything else you find in the text. Address the Socratic counter arguments to these claims and rebut them as best you can. Make sure to use textual evidence for your reasoning on both sides of your argument.

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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