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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. Who does the philosopher want to be with according to Socrates?

2. What can be compared by using reference to knowledge of the perfect form?

3. Who are "the Eleven" according to Phaedo?

4. Who wants to hear Socrates' argument that the soul appears immortal?

5. What conclusion does Socrates draw from his argument concerning the goal of a philosopher?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Socrates state about the fusion of body and soul at the beginning of 66b-72e?

2. What does Socrates say about the gods at the end of 57a-62c?

3. When Socrates was on trial, what happened to his wife?

4. What does recollection imply about similarity?

5. What must man do in order to attain pure knowledge?

6. What does Socrates argue about opposites from opposites?

7. What does Socrates say opposites contain?

8. What does Socrates say should be the one goal of the philosopher?

9. What do Socrates and Cebes discuss about the composite and non-composite?

10. What does Echecrates ask Phaedo at the beginning of "Phaedo"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Phaedo gives an interpretation and examples of the argument from opposites. Take death and explain how the argument from opposites is meant to show that the soul coheres after death. Analyze the potential problems that arise from this argument and determine whether or not they were properly reconciled. Use the text to support your statements.

Essay Topic 2

In "Phaedo", Socrates argues that the soul is immortal and that we need to rise above our physical nature in order to gain knowledge. Discuss why we need to rise above physical nature in the pursuit of true knowledge. Use examples from the text to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the two key aspects of Plato's ethical doctrine regarding the theory of recollection or the assertion that learning is essentially an act of recollecting things. Analyze the theory of recollection and perception in detail, discussing different arguments made in "Phaedo". Support your statements by using examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 710 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample