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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. What does Socrates argue about our knowledge of Greater, smaller, Beautiful, Good, Justice and Pious?

2. According to Socrates, what does the philosopher hate most?

3. Why did Socrates decide to pursue the arts according to his conversation with Cebes?

4. What does Cebes argue is the logical conclusion of a man always giving the right answer?

5. What condition does Cebes put forth for Socrates' conclusion to be valid?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Socrates say to defend death?

2. What does Socrates say about the gods at the end of 57a-62c?

3. What does Socrates wonder about in regards to knowledge?

4. What do Socrates and Cebes discuss about the composite and non-composite?

5. What must man do in order to attain pure knowledge?

6. What does Socrates believe about freedom and what does this mean for the philosopher

7. What does Socrates claim are not the great goods of life?

8. What does the theory of opposites imply about dead things at the end of 66b-72e?

9. What does Socrates argue about two sticks or two stones?

10. When Socrates was on trial, what happened to his wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Phaedo" heavily emphasizes the role of the philosopher in ancient times. Discuss the role and significance of the philosopher, using the text and a secondary source to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Anaxagoras and his theories are discussed in "Phaedo". Explain the difference between material and theleogical explanations and the application of each. Discuss why Anxagoras' theories may be considered valuable or invaluable. Use the text and secondary sources to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

In an essay, discuss the statement that philosophy is a "longing for death." Do you think this line of thinking was consistent with the reason he refused to escape from prison?

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