Lecture Notes Practice: Socrates, Philosophy, and Intersectionality

A set of practice flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on Socrates, philosophy, and intersectionality.

What does psyche mean?

soul

What does oikos mean?

household or private space

What does demos mean?

the people

What is the definition of democracy?

rule by the people

What does krateo mean, and what does the -cracy suffix indicate?

to rule; -cracy indicates rule by (e.g., democracy, theocracy)

What is a polis?

city-state

What does sophia mean?

wisdom

Who is a sophist?

one who is paid to craft language for a particular purpose

How is Socrates’ name said to be derived?

from sophia + krateo (sophia + krateo)

What is philosophy?

love of wisdom

What is apologia?

defense

What does daimon mean?

spirit or inner voice/conscience

What is tacit consent?

unspoken agreement to obey the laws by living in a place

What is expressed consent?

explicit agreement to obey the laws

What is an unexamined opinion?

an opinion not critically examined

What does Logos mean?

words and reason

What does dialogical mean?

two people speaking back and forth, evolving in response

Who is an interlocutor?

the in-between speaker in a dialogue (e.g., Meletus in Apology; Crito in Crito)

What is Intersectionality?

the interconnected nature of social categorizations (race, sex, class, etc.) creating overlapping systems of disadvantage

What is a Gadfly in Socratic terms?

a provocative figure who stirs up citizens to pursue virtue and truth (Socrates as gadfly)

What does the phrase 'The unexamined life is not worth living' signify?

a central claim that a life without critical self-examination is unworthy

What is the Gadfly’s priority?

virtue and the soul’s well-being over wealth or power

How does Athens relate to philosophy in the Gadfly metaphor?

Athens is a noble but sluggish horse that needs stirring by the gadfly

What is the relation between the philosopher and the polis (city)?

The philosopher awakens and challenges the city toward virtue and truth; without him Athens risks stagnation

Who is Sojourner Truth in relation to intersectionality?

an example of overlapping oppressions (race and gender) highlighting intersectionality in history

Who is Meletus?

the accuser in Plato's Apology

What is an interlocutor’s role?

the in-between speaker in a dialogue

What is the Socratic Method?

a dialogical method of questioning to examine beliefs and seek wisdom

What does DIA LOGOS mean?

Words and reason

What happens in Plato’s Crito regarding escape?

Crito argues for escape to avoid disgrace; Socrates argues for obeying the laws and not undermining them

What is tacit consent in the Crito context?

unspoken agreement to obey the laws simply by living there

Why should Socrates not fear majority opinion?

Because the majority is not necessarily wise; one should follow wisdom

What are the charges against Socrates in Apology?

Corrupting the youth, not believing in the city’s gods, and introducing new spiritual beings

What is Socratic wisdom?

Knowing that you don’t know

How does Socrates compare Athens to a horse in Apology?

Athens is a noble but sluggish horse needing a gadfly to be stirred into action

What is the divine mission Socrates cites?

He believes he is sent by the gods to question and examine people, even at personal cost