Questions and Answers
What kind of definition of concepts does Socrates insist on from his interlocutors in early dialogues like Laches and Euthypro?
Socrates insists on conceptual or philosophical definitions.
Compare the models of the soul found in Republic and Phaedrus. What are the components of each?
What are two conceptions of justice that are found in Republic?
- Speaking truth and paying what one owes 2. Harmony among the parts of a functioning whole
How is justice defined in Book IV of Republic?
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What is the distinction between general and particular justice according to Aristotle?
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What is dialectic and how is it related to dialogue?
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What does Socrates mean when he says that a better man cannot be hurt by a worse?
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What is Meno's paradox, and how does the doctrine of recollection solve it?
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What is the function of the pre-dialectical studies that Plato describes in Book 7 of the Republic?
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Compare the conceptions of love in Socrates' report of Diotima's speech in Symposium with Socrates' second speech in Phaedrus.
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What is Socratic irony and what is it for?
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What is courage as a property of the city in Republic?
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Study Notes
Socratic Definitions
- Socrates demands conceptual definitions from interlocutors, emphasizing necessary and sufficient conditions applicable in all contexts.
Models of the Soul
- Both models in Republic and Phaedrus are tripartite.
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Republic:
- Components: reason, emotion, appetite.
- Reason governs emotion and appetite; symbolizes the soul's escape from ignorance.
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Phaedrus:
- Components: reason, emotion, spiritedness.
- Depicted as a charioteer with two horses, representing the soul's potential to transcend physical forms.
Conceptions of Justice in Republic
- Justice is understood as:
- Speaking truth and fulfilling obligations.
- Achieving harmony among part of the social whole.
Justice in Republic vs. Nicomachean Ethics
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Republic:
- Justice defined as individuals fulfilling their roles within society to maintain harmony.
- Justice is inherently good.
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Nicomachean Ethics (Aristotle):
- Distinguishes between general and particular justice.
- General justice relates to a virtue expressed through adherence to laws.
- Particular justice is subdivided into:
- Distributive justice: distribution based on proportion.
- Rectificatory justice: seeks balance in private transactions, categorized into voluntary and involuntary actions.
Dialectic and Dialogue
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Dialectic:
- Defined as the philosophical method to uncover truth, involving thesis, antithesis, and argumentation.
- Aims for recollection of pre-existing truths.
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Dialogue:
- Engages two individuals in mutual questioning to holistically define terms.
- Requires comprehensive understanding of concepts to avoid incomplete definitions.
Socratic Assertion on Virtue
- Socrates asserts that a virtuous person remains immune to harm or loss of virtue, regardless of external circumstances.
Meno's Paradox and Doctrine of Recollection
- Meno's paradox posits that without knowledge of a subject, one cannot seek it, and with knowledge, there is no need to seek it.
- The doctrine of recollection resolves this by suggesting prior conceptual understanding must exist for investigation to commence.
Pre-Dialectical Studies in Republic
- Education in fundamental subjects like geometry and astronomy is vital for disengaging from sensory dependency and fostering higher understanding of realities beyond the physical.
Conceptions of Love in Symposium vs. Phaedrus
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Symposium:
- Eros represents a blend of wisdom and ignorance, lacking beauty and goodness.
- Characterizes love as a spirit bridging human and divine.
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Phaedrus:
- Celebrates the divine nature of romantic love as a means of recollection of higher truths.
- Love is depicted as reverent and transformative; it inspires devotion and aligns with beauty.
Socratic Irony
- Socratic irony involves Socrates feigning ignorance to draw out his interlocutor's understanding, highlighting their lack of awareness and prompting deeper inquiry.
Courage in the Republic
- Courage is conceptualized as a crucial aspect of the city's preservation, signifying the virtue that enables strength and resilience within the societal structure.
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Description
Test your understanding of key concepts in Classical Philosophy with this quiz focusing on Socratic definitions and models of the soul found in Plato's works. Explore the nuances of terms like courage and piety through Socratic dialogues, and compare philosophical views presented in 'Republic' and 'Phaedrus'.