Socrates Philosophy Quiz

Who is Socrates?

Socrates is an Athenian philosopher who died at the age of 70 and died in 399 BCE. He was killed by the Athenian democracy.

Who wrote about Socrates?

Plato, Aristophanes, and Xenophon

Who are the Sophists?

They are intellectuals called the worldwide men - Hippias, Protagoras, and Gorgias. They charged a fee for their services and are master rhetoricans.

What did the Sophists believe?

They believed that “man is the measure of all things” and they did not believe in objective faith.

What is Socratic Irony?

Socrates claims ignorance and wants to be taught by an expert. He takes the expert at their word that they have knowledge but turns out that they are ignorant too.

What do the early dialogues of Plato focus on?

Ti Esti Dialogues (what is dialogue?). They are concerned with the definition of things.

What was the Peloponnesian war and who won?

The war was a massive war between Athens and Sparta and Sparta won. The Spartan general was Lysander.

What was the Periclean Democracy?

Direct democracy of Athenian gentlemen who owned property and it was led by Pericles, a famous statesman of the so-called “Golden Age” of Athens.

What was the Thirty?

The Thirty was an oligarchy tyranny ran in part by Critias and Charmides who are the relatives of Plato and students of Socrates.

What is the court of King Archon?

religious crimes

Who is Euthyphro and what is his profession?

He is a prophet and he knows the will of gods and can tell the future, His name means Mr. Right Mind and he probably didn’t exit.

What are the two charges against Socrates?

impiety and the corruption of the youth

Why is Euthyphro at the law court?

He is prosecuting his father for murdering one of his hired hands who had killed one of Euthyphros servants while he was drunk.

Who is Meletus?

Socrates’ main accuser

What is the first definition of piety and why did it not work?

The first definition is that piety is what Euthyphro is doing which is prosecuting his father and this did not work because it is an example.

What is the second definition of piety and why did it not work?

The second definition is that what the gods love is pious and what the gods hate is impious. This did not work because the gods disagree on matters.

What is the third definition of piety and why did it not work?

The third definition is what all the gods love is pious and what all the gods hate is impious. This did not work because is it pious because it’s pious or is it pious because the gods love it?

What is the fourth definition of piety and why did it not work?

The fourth definition is that piety is that part of justice is the care for the gods an the rest of justice is care for the humans. This did not work because what do you mean by care and how can one care for something perfect?

What is the fifth definition of piety and why did it not work?

The fifth definition is to know how to pray and know how to sacrifice. This did not work because it repeats all the problems of the past definitions.

What happens at the end of the Euthyphro dialogue?

Euthyphro runs away and leaves Socrates to his fate.

At the beginning of the Apology, who does Socrates fears the most?

He fears Aristophanes because he wrote the clouds stating that the clouds make rain come nad not Zeus, and whoever believes in Zeus in a moron.

Why does Socrates say that he is not a Sophist?

Socrates says that he is not a Sophist because he does not charge a fee, does not believe in the natural sciences, and is committed to seeking the truth.

Which god does the Oracle of Delphi represent?

Apollo

What does the Oracle tell Chaerephon?

Chaerephon asks the Oracle if there is anyone more wiser than Socrates, and the Oracle responds “no man is wiser than Socrates.”

How does Socrates refute Meletus’ charge on corruption? (five sentences)

Meletus says that the law improves the youth and Socrates says that he did not ask what improves the youth, but who. Meletus then says that everyone improves the youth except Socrates. Socrates says that this is absurd and then he asks does Meletus think that he accidently corrupts the youth or intentionally corrupts the youth. Meletus then says that he deliberately corrupts the youth. Socrates says that this is absurd because no one knowingly does wrong.

How does Socrates refute Meletus’ charge on impiety? (five sentences)

Socrates asks Melets if he thinks that Socrates is an atheist. Meletus says yes and then accuses Socrates that he believes that the sun and moon are rocks. Socrates then says that’s wrong because he is prosecuting Socrates and not Anaxagoras. Socrates also claims that he has a daemon and that this daemon is his guardian angel or spirit. If this dameon is a spirit, spirits are the children of gods. Therefore, Socrates believes in the gods.

Why does Socrates compare himself to a gadfly and the city of Athens to a horse?

Socrates is pestering Athens to commit itself to seeking wisdom and doing this is annoying. Athens is a mighty city that has gotten lazy like a big lazy horse and that it has to giddy up and seek wisdom.

What is the verdict? What are Socrates’ suggestions for his punishment (name all three)?

He is guilty by a margin of thirty votes and that there are 501 jurors. He has three ideas:

1. Free room and board for the rest of his life

2. Might as well just kill him

3. Pay them a fine of 30 minae

What is the ultimate sentence of the court and what is the method of execution?

Death by hemlock

Why does Socrates say that we should not fear death?

Because to fear what we on’t know is arrogant. He says that either of the two things can happen after death?

1. Death is eternal sleep

2. Socrates will continue to philosophize in the afterlife with the heroes of Greek myths.

Who is the dog of Egypt?

Anubis