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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 are Francis Bacon's relative that cause it to be said that his political career began at his birth in 1561?

2. Where does Voltaire write The Romances?

3. What does Spinoza say the language of the Bible is?

4. How does Spinoza find himself after asking questions about Jewish and Christian beliefs?

5. Why does Spinoza say an allegorical interpretation of the Bible allows it to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Aristotle's philosophy often criticized as dry and uninteresting?

2. Contrast Aristotle's Lyceum with Plato's Academy.

3. Explain why Spinoza gives up everything for philosophy.

4. How does Bacon's reconstruction exceed the work of Aristotle?

5. How does Spinoza's education come from questions he wants answers to?

6. Describe Spinoza's identification of three ethical systems.

7. How does Durant see the evolution of stoicism into the Christian religion?

8. What is Voltaire's reaction to Voltaire's desire to be a professional writer?

9. How does Plato see population as a political problem of war that can be controlled?

10. How does Plato state the cause of political problems in the world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the death of Socrates. In your essay discuss the devotion of his students and why Socrates chooses not to escape Athens but drink the hemlock instead. Be sure to include the real reason Socrates is sentenced to death.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on truth. In your essay comment on the difficulty of determining what truth is. Give your opinion on approaching the study of truth as a search for its origins or as a practical application for the future.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on aesthetics, the theory of beauty and art. Include your assessment of why aesthetics is such an important part of philosophy. Discuss the various ways of looking at beauty and art from the study of THE STORY OF PHILOSOPHY.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 748 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample