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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 and his friends, what happens to a soul after it spends some time in the Underworld?

2. According to the introduction to the Phaedo, what are the most likely causes of suicide?

3. Why did Socrates ask Crito to be cautious?

4. How was Socrates executed?

5. Why did Socrates insist on going through with his sentence?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conclusion do Socrates and Crito reach regarding the laws of the land?

2. What do Socrates and Crito say about experts?

3. What is "Idealism" in philosophy?

4. What was the Pythagorean school of thought?

5. Who is present at Socrates' execution?

6. What do Socrates' friends say about suicide, and the preservation of life, in the "Phaedo"?

7. What is said, in Book 4, about Socrates' dream?

8. What is the intended audience for Book 5?

9. Why is Socrates' execution delayed?

10. What does Socrates think will happen after his death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Socrates refuses to leave Athens and escape his punishment because he felt that it was just to stay. Do you agree? Would it have been better for Socrates to have fled Athens? Why or why not? What do you think you would do in this situation? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Socrates' final wish was that a rooster be given as an offering to Asclepius, the god of healing. What was the significance of this request? Why would Socrates ask for an offering to be given to Asclepius, instead of Apollo - the god of wisdom, and the one who supposedly gave Socrates his other inspirations? What is the significance of the rooster? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the characters in "The Last Days of Socrates." What was this person's relationship to Socrates? Did this person affect Socrates' decisions in any way? If so, how? What were this person's core beliefs? What topic did they debate with Socrates? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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