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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 did the Pythagoreans conclude about the nature of matter?

2. What was the other possibility that Socrates contemplated regarding the afterlife?

3. Who lost control of his emotions at Socrates' execution?

4. According to Socrates and his friends, what happens to a soul after it spends some time in the Underworld?

5. How can a person avoid all disappointment, according to Socrates?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the ancient Greeks' beliefs regarding the afterlife?

2. What realization does Socrates have as a result of his and Phaedo's debate with Simmias and Cebes?

3. What does Crito want Socrates to do?

4. What do Socrates' friends say about suicide, and the preservation of life, in the "Phaedo"?

5. What was the Pythagorean school of thought?

6. Why is Socrates' execution delayed?

7. What is "Idealism" in philosophy?

8. What is the setting of the Phaedo?

9. What is the setting of Book 4?

10. What evidence led Plato and the Pythagoreans to the theory of an eternal soul?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Socrates' final wish was that a rooster be given as an offering to Asclepius, the god of healing. What was the significance of this request? Why would Socrates ask for an offering to be given to Asclepius, instead of Apollo - the god of wisdom, and the one who supposedly gave Socrates his other inspirations? What is the significance of the rooster? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Socrates refuses to leave Athens and escape his punishment because he felt that it was just to stay. Do you agree? Would it have been better for Socrates to have fled Athens? Why or why not? What do you think you would do in this situation? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the various theories presented regarding the topic of justice. What is it? How is it achieved? How does one tell what is just? What are the necessary conditions for one to be able to do what is just? Do you agree that Socrates did what was just when he accepted his punishment? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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This section contains 786 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample