Plato

What were the two official charges brought against Socrates at his trial?

• Corrupting the youth of Athens.

  • Not believing in the gods of the city and introducing new gods (impiety).

Why did people believe Socrates corrupted the youth?

Because he encouraged young people to question authority, challenge accepted beliefs, and think critically instead of simply accepting tradition. His questioning embarrassed influential Athenians, who blamed him for influencing the younger generation.

How does Socrates defend himself against the charge of corrupting the youth?

He argues that no one intentionally harms those around them because harming others ultimately harms oneself. If he were corrupting people, he would either be doing it unintentionally (which deserves instruction, not punishment) or not at all.

How does Socrates respond to the accusation that he does not believe in the gods?

He argues that the accusation contradicts itself. His accusers claim he believes in spiritual beings (daimons), but believing in spiritual beings necessarily implies believing in gods, just as believing in children implies believing in parents.

According to Socrates, ________ ignorance is not knowing something while believing that you know it.

double

The Oracle of Delphi declared that no one was ________ than Socrates.

wiser

Socrates' method of questioning, in which an initial claim is shown to lead to a contradiction, is called the ________.

Elenchos

Thrasymachus argues that justice is the benefit or interest of the ________.

stronger

Socrates was accused of corrupting the ________ of Athens.

youth

Socrates was accused of not believing in the ________ of the city and introducing new gods.

gods

Socrates argues that if he corrupted the youth, he must have done so ________, not intentionally.

unintentionally

According to Socrates, someone who does wrong unintentionally should be ________ rather than punished.

instructed

Socrates argues that no one intentionally harms others because harming others would ultimately harm ________.

themselves

To refute the charge of impiety, Socrates argues that believing in spiritual beings also requires believing in ________.

gods

The Oracle of Delphi declared that no one was ________ than Socrates.

wiser

After hearing the Oracle's statement, Socrates questioned politicians, poets, and ________ to test the Oracle's claim.

craftsmen

Socrates concluded that he was wiser because he recognized the ________ of his own knowledge.

limits

According to Socrates, ________ ignorance is not knowing something while recognizing that you do not know it.

simple

According to Socrates, ________ ignorance is not knowing something while believing that you do know it.

double

Socrates believed that ________ ignorance is more dangerous because it prevents people from learning.

double

Socrates' mission in Athens was to expose false ________ and encourage the pursuit of genuine wisdom.

wisdom

Socrates' method of questioning is called the ________.

Elenchos

In the Elenchos, Socrates begins by asking his interlocutor to make an initial ________.

claim

Through questioning, the Elenchos leads the interlocutor to a ________ with their original claim.

contradiction

The purpose of the Elenchos is to reveal inconsistent beliefs and expose ________ ignorance.

double

Thrasymachus defines justice as the benefit or interest of the ________.

stronger

Socrates argues that rulers sometimes make ________, meaning they may command what is not actually in their own interest.

mistakes

If rulers can make mistakes, then Thrasymachus' definition suggests justice could require acting against the interest of the ________.

stronger

Thrasymachus defines justice as the benefit or interest of the ________.

stronger%

Socrates argues that rulers can sometimes make ________ in determining what is in their interest.

mistakes%

According to Socrates, justice cannot simply be defined as obedience to the stronger because rulers may command what is not in their own ________.

interest%

Thrasymachus assumes that those in power always act in their own ________.

interest%

Socrates argues that ruling is a type of ________ that aims at the good of those being ruled.

craft%

In Socrates’ refutation, good rulers aim at the benefit of their ________, not themselves.

subjects%

Socrates challenges Thrasymachus by showing that justice cannot be based only on who has ________.

power%

Thrasymachus equates justice with laws made by those who hold ________.

power%

Socrates argues that no craft seeks its own benefit but rather the benefit of its ________.

object%

Socrates concludes that justice cannot be defined as the advantage of the ________.

stronger%

Plato divides the ideal city into ________ parts.

three%

The ruling class in Plato’s city is responsible for ________.

reason%

The auxiliary class in Plato’s city is responsible for ________.

protection%

The producing class in Plato’s city is responsible for ________.

production%

In the soul, the rational part is responsible for ________.

reason%

In the soul, the spirited part is associated with emotions such as anger and ________.

courage%

In the soul, the appetitive part is responsible for ________ and physical desires.

desire%

Wisdom is the virtue associated with the ________ part of the soul.

rational%

Courage is the virtue associated with the ________ part of the soul.

spirited%

Justice, for Plato, is when each part of the city or soul performs its proper ________.

function%

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Line are used to explain different levels of ________.

knowledge%

The lowest level of reality in Plato’s Line is the world of ________ objects.

sensible%

Sensible particulars are objects that are perceived through the ________.

senses%

Intelligible universals are grasped through the ________.

intellect%

According to Plato, knowledge gained through the senses is less reliable than knowledge gained through ________.

reason%

The Divided Line distinguishes between opinion (doxa) and ________ (episteme).

knowledge%

In the Divided Line, images and shadows represent the lowest level of ________.

reality%

Belief based on physical objects corresponds to the level of ________ in the Line.

belief%

Mathematical reasoning belongs to the level of ________ thought.

dianoetic%

The highest level in the Line is understanding of the ________ or Forms.

Forms%

Plato’s Forms are best described as ________ realities.

intelligible%

The Form of the Good is the highest principle in Plato’s system of ________.

reality%

The Allegory of the Cave represents human beings initially trapped in a world of ________.

illusion%

The prisoners in the cave take shadows to be ________.

reality%

The shadows on the wall represent ________ objects.

sensible%

The objects casting shadows represent higher levels of ________ than shadows.

reality%

The prisoner who escapes the cave represents the philosopher’s journey toward ________.

knowledge%

The sun in the Allegory of the Cave represents the Form of the ________.

Good%

The process of leaving the cave is painful because it requires turning away from ________ experience.

sensory%

At first, the freed prisoner is ________ by the sunlight.

blinded%

The freed prisoner represents someone moving from opinion toward ________.

knowledge%

Returning to the cave symbolizes the philosopher trying to ________ others.

educate%

Those still in the cave often ________ the freed prisoner.

reject%

The Allegory of the Cave shows the difference between appearance and ________.

reality%

Plato argues that most people live in a state of ________ rather than knowledge.

opinion%

The Line and Cave together show that reality has different levels of ________.

being%

Higher levels of reality are more ________ and less dependent on the senses.

real%

Knowledge becomes more reliable as it moves from sensory perception to ________ reasoning.

intellectual%

Plato’s philosophy suggests that education is a process of turning the soul toward ________.

truth%

The highest level of understanding in Plato’s system is contemplation of the ________.

Good%