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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. How can a person avoid all disappointment, according to Socrates?

2. What do we know about Phaedo?

3. Who was the young woman at Socrates' execution?

4. Was Plato present at Socrates' execution?

5. According to Tarrant, what is one modern debate which is similar in nature to the issues in the "Phaedo"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tarrant use as an example to illustrate the differences in mentality, in this section, regarding death and suicide?

2. What was the Pythagorean school of thought?

3. Who is present at Socrates' execution?

4. What is written in Book 5, Chapter 1, about risking the loss of one's life?

5. What new habit do Socrates' friends discover in the "Phaedo"?

6. What realization does Socrates have as a result of his and Phaedo's debate with Simmias and Cebes?

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

8. What does Crito want Socrates to do?

9. What do Socrates and Crito say about experts?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Socrates makes a distinction between necessary and sufficient causes. What are necessary causes? What are sufficient causes? What separates them from one another? What are the necessary and sufficient causes relating to Socrates' execution? Are there other examples of necessary and sufficient causes in the dialogues? If so, what are they? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Who is Meletus? Why did he choose to prosecute Socrates? What evidence did his use as a basis for his prosecution? Why did he seek the death penalty for Socrates? Was he acting on behalf of the Athenian government? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

The concept of the soul is a subject of much debate in "The Last Days of Socrates." Compare and contrast the various theories of the soul. What is it? What does it do? Is it eternal, or does it slip into oblivion after death? What is the evidence presented for each theory? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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This section contains 763 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample