Core Text Mid Term

What is the Axial Age? (what, when, where)

• it was a pivotal age where new ways of thinking appeared

• it was from 800 BCE-300 BCE

• in Ancient Greece, Middle East, India, China

Why is the Axial Age Significant?

it was one of the most groundbreaking period of religious, intellectual, psychological, and philosophical change in history

What Axial Age thinkers have we studied?

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Buddha

Liminal (meaning in relation to axial age) (2 points)

• neither here nor there

• between 2 ages allowing for major changes

Greece at the time of Socrates (4 points)

• Athens was powerful and democratic

• society was split up into citizens, women, metics (free non citizens), and slaves

• places like agora and gymnasia were major public spaces

• new ideas were introduced by scientists, writers and sophists through questions about nature, science and humanity

Who was Socrates? (3 points)

• Axial age thinker/first western philosopher

• son of a midwife and stonemason

• greek philosopher who lived in Athens during height of power and intellectual growth

What did Socrates teach? (4 points)

• he sought to teach truth to all by questioning them and making them question what they believed (socratic method)

• ignorance is the only evil

• first person to put ethics at the heart of philosophy

• the condition of the soul matters

Why didn’t Socrates leave a written legacy?

he believed writing imprisoned knowledge

What ultimately happened to Socrates?

He was imprisoned and sentenced to drink deadly hemlock

What is the Socratic Method?

form of questioning and argumentation to arrive at truth

What is the important distinction in the first 2 sentences of Plato’s Apology?

Truth vs. Persuasion

• truth: no defense is needed because they know they are right

• persuasion: defensive because there is no truth to back it up

What are the charges against Socrates (Plato’s Apology)?

1. corruption of the youth

2. neglect of the gods/impiety

How does Socrates try to defend himself against the charges against him (Plato’s Apology)?

he says he is someone who is aware of his own ignorance

What is the meaning of apology (Plato’s Apology)?

defense/speech given in defense

Who were the “Sophists” (Plato’s Apology)? (2 points)

• teachers who claimed to have wisdom and taught people for money

• teach students to talk persuasively

What was Socrates trying to tell the audience about truth (Plato’s Apology)? (3 points)

• it begins by recognizing your ignorance

• knowing truth is more important than acting wise

• truth and virtue should be main goals of man

How can you discover truth (Plato’s Apology)? (2 points)

• use questioning (socratic method)

• constantly searching for it in all things

What is the meaning of Allegory (Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”)?

story that uses symbols to communicate a deeper idea/meaning

What is Socrates trying to teach Glaucon (Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”)?

• the journey from ignorance to truth/good/knowledge

• importance of leading others to truth

What does the cave and other symbols represent (Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”)?

• dark: ignorance

• light: good.truth/knowledge

• shadows: what we think we know

• cave: prison of ignorance

Why must the prisoner return to the cave (Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”)?

to bring others to truth/enlightenment because they are supposed to be selfless/living for the state not for themselves

According to Aristotle, what is the good (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Good and Happiness)? (2 points)

• the activity of the soul in accordance to virtue

• highest human good is happiness (living well and doing well)

According to Aristotle, what is the happiness (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Good and Happiness)?

living well and doing well

Where do most people think happiness comes from (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Good and Happiness)? (3 points)

1. pleasure

2. wealth

3. honor/prestige

2 kinds of purpose are outcomes and activities. Which one does Aristotle consider to be human flourishing/the ‘good life’ (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Good and happiness)?

activity (because happiness is something you do not just something you possess)

What is the general idea of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs? (2 points)

• basic needs must be bet before achieving higher /fulfillment/ happiness

• basic → psychological → self fulfillment

What is the meaning of ‘eudaimoinia’?

the highest good a human can achieve

What is Aristotle’s Doctrine of Mean (views on moral virtue)?

we should strive for balance/mean so we do not fall into the vice of excess or the vice of deficiency

What are the 3 kinds of friendship according to Aristotle (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Friendship)?

1. friendship of utility: friends because of the things they can get from eachother

2. friendship of pleasure: more emotional but short lived; grown over mutual interest/enjoyment in smth

3. friendship of virtue: value each other as good people and want the best for each other

What are accidental friendships (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Friendship)?
Identify what they are and qualities of them… (2 points)

• more accidental than intentional

• friendship of utility (what you can gain from the other) and friendship of pleasure (for the fun/mutual interests)

How does Aristotle define ‘perfect friendship’ (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics: Friendship)?
what qualities does it have/need? (2 points)

• friendship of virtue (based on mutual appreciation of the virtues that the other party holds dear)

• takes time and trust, depends on mutual growth, pleasurable and beneficial

What were the general features of the lives, roles, and status of women in Ancient Greece? Limitations? Rights/lack of rights? (8 points)

• domestic duties, not allowed out unless getting water or visiting tombs

• submit to men and always part of a family

• no political involvement and no voting

• only property was dowry

• sole purpose was to make babies so often married around 13-15

• Kore (before marriage) → Nymph (marriage to childbirth) → gyne (after first kid)

• female babies were abandoned at birth

• educated and participated in athletics but not exact same as boys

What were Aristotle’s views on women? (7 points)

• very misogynistic

• women were deformed males

• reached puberty faster because of imperfection

• discharge was soulless semen

• not capable of abstract reasoning (so stuck in domestic sphere)

• biologically inferior

• “anatomy is desitny” - women were not as capable as men

What were Plato’s views on women? (3 points)

• sometimes considered one of the earliest feminist writers

• believed that women would become more equal to men if they received appropriate training/education

• suppression of women is waste of human resource and denied society

What is androcentrism?

centered on or dominated by male perspective

What is misogyny?

fear or hatred of women

What is patriarchy?

ultimate justification for male rule in the household and state

What is the meaning of the title Buddha?

enlightened one or awakened one

What was the Buddha’s historical name?

Siddhartha Gautama

What were the features of the Buddha’s life

• he was a prince who lived in luxury

• he was an ascetic

• then rejected extreme asceticism and taught the middle way

• he attains enlightenment and “earns” the title Buddha

luxury → self denial → middle way

What did the Buddha achieve?

enlightenment

What is ‘Nirvana’? (what does it mean?)

• state of complete peace from suffering and desire

• ultimate state of life/existence (everyone strives to achieve nirvana)

What did the Buddha’s teachings on the ‘Middle Way’ signify?

a balanced way of life that avoids excessive pleasure and extreme self-denial

What is the meaning of Asceticism? (and in relation to the Buddha’s life) (2 points)

• spiritual seeker who renounces worldly life, family, possessions, etc. and lives a minimum existence with only bare essentials and depends on the generosity of others for basic needs

• He became an ascetic after his life of luxury because of the 4 signs that he saw in a vision

What does the phrase ‘thus have I heard’ indicate (Sigalavada Sutta)?

reveals that it was an oral tradition and one of Buddha’s pupil’s wrote his words down

How doe the Buddha reinterpret the practice of ‘worshipping the 6 directions’ (Sigalavada Sutta)?

• 6 directions represented 6 types of relationships because social stability and security was seen as necessary for human happiness and fulfillment

relationships with:

1. below: workers

2. above: ascetics

3. north: friends

4. south: teachers

5. east: parents

6. west: wife

• there are a list of commitments and their corresponding reciprocal acts

What kinds of behaviors and relationships does the Buddha warn against (Sigalavada Sutta)? (3 sub topics)

4 causes of evil action (F A D S):

1. fear

2. anger/hate/enmity

3. desire

4. stupidity

4 vices of conduct (M*SS*L)

1. murder/taking life

2. stealing

3. sexual misconduct

4. lying

4 foes

1. greedy person

2. man of words not deeds

3. the flatterer/backstabber

4. the fellow-waster (encourager of bad things)

What kinds of behaviors and relationships does the Buddha advocate (Sigalavada Sutta)? (5 points and sub point)

• treat others with respect and kindness

• wise with money

• not lazy

• honest and trustworthy

• self-control

4 friends

1. the helper

2. the same in happiness and adversity

3. friend of good counsel

4. one who sympathizes

What are Buddha’s 4 foes (Sigalavada Sutta)?

1. the greedy

2. the man of words not deeds

3. the flatterer

4. the fellow waster (encourages you to waste your time, money, resources)

What are Buddha’s 4 friends (Sigalavada Sutta)?

1. the helper

2. the one who is same in happiness and adversity

3. friend of good counsel

4. one who sympathizes/supports you

How many years did it take Virgil to write the Aeneid (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

11 years (30-19 BCE)

What language was it written in (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

latin

How many lines is it (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

9,896 lines

What did Virgil want to do with the manuscript and what ended up happening (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

he wanted it to be destroyed because it wasn’t good enough but Emperor Augustus had it published instead

What is the general idea of the influence of the Homeric epics on the Aeneid (Virgil’s Aeneid)? (3 points)

• first 6 books are based on the Odyssey

• last 6 books are based on the Iliad

• Aeneas is a character adopted from the Iliad

What is a descriptor for the first 6 books (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

wanderings

what is a descriptor for the last 6 books (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

wars

What do the opening lines tell us the epic will be about (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

weapons and man

What does ‘arma’ mean (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

weapons (arms)

What does ‘virum’ mean (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

man

What is Virgil writing about (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

• the story of the founding of the Roman Empire through the effort of the mythical character Aeneas

• war and wanderings

Why was Aeneas called the ‘reluctant hero’ (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

he doesn’t always want to leave his old life or accept his fate, but piety always wins and he obeys fate

What does Juno hate Aeneas and the Trojans (Virgil’s Aeneid)? (4 points)

• her pride and sense of self was wounded

• she didn’t get picked by Paris

• Aeneas’ fate was to destroy her city (Carthage)

• her daughter was not picked to be Jupiter’s cupbearer

What does ‘pietas’ mean (Virgil’s Aeneid)? (meaning and significance) (3 points)

• duty/devotion

• mindful and reverent of both the gods and of duty

• highly valued roman virtue

What is the hierarchy or Supernatural forces (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

1. Fate

2. gods

3. humans

Who is Dido (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)?

Queen of Carthage

How is Dido portrayed in the Aeneid (Virgil’s Aeneid)?

book 1: strong, capable, respected queen

book 4: emotionally vulnerable, lovesick, weak

How is Dido’s love for Aenied described (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)?

all consuming, overwhelming, lovesick, full of passion

What does ‘furor’ mean and what is its significance in relation to Dido (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)? (2 points)

• passion

• she represents it and her character/actions is defined by it

Who is vested in Dido’s and Aeneas’ love affair and why (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)? (3 points)

• Juno

• marriage will bring success to Carthage

• it will tie Aeneas down and stop him from achieving his fate of founding Rome and conquering Carthage

Who is not vested in Dido’s and Aeneas’ love affair and why (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)?

Aeneas doesn’t even think they are married

Why does Aeneas break up with Dido (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)? (2 points)

• because of the stern speech that Jupiter gave to him through mercury about his fate and purpose

• he followed his piety

How does Dido react to the break up (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)? (4 points)

• betrayed “who can delude a lover”

• heartbroken

• desperate (tries to beg Aeneas to stay/grovels)

• hopeless and commits suicide

What is Aeneas’ response to the break up (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)? (2 points)

• he brushed it off saying they never got married

• he claimed that it was because of his fate/piety that he had to leave

What ultimately happens to Dido (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)?

she commits suicide by burning herself alive

What is the difference between ‘pietas’ and ‘furor’ with respect to the characters and Roman values (Virgil’s Aeneid, Book IV)?

Pietas = Aeneas

Furor = Dido

the romans value pietas more

How to identify the title of the work, the name of the author of “Plato, Apology”

• trial

• discusses Oracle of Delphi

• corrupting of the youth

• irony/defense language

• in Athens Greece during the time of death of Socrates

How to identify the title of the work, the name of the author of “Plato, Allegory of the Cave”

• symbolism

• ignorance to knowledge

• what we see vs reality

• created some of the most influential themes in western philosophy

How to identify the title of the work, the name of the author of “Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics”

• happiness, virtue, balance, friendship

• discusses what you need to do to live well

• discussions of the mean

How to identify the title of the work, the name of the author of “The Buddha, Sigalavada Sutta”

• 6 directions

• scripture vibes

• very instructional and applicable

How to identify the title of the work, the name of the author of “Virgil, the Aneid (1 + 4)”

• poetic and romantic

• discusses war and wanderings

• main character is Aeneas

• helped explain Roman beginnings and identity