Plato Midterm Study Guide PDF

Plato Midterm Study Guide Clouds Q: The characters of Strepsiades & Pheidippides A: Strepsiades - Strepsiades is a creditor, father of Pheidippides. He is burdened by the debts of his son. Instead of paying these debts, he directs all his focus to learning “the unjust speech”...

Plato Midterm Study Guide Clouds Q: The characters of Strepsiades & Pheidippides A: Strepsiades - Strepsiades is a creditor, father of Pheidippides. He is burdened by the debts of his son. Instead of paying these debts, he directs all his focus to learning “the unjust speech” so that he can use dishonest means to avoid them. He also seems to be weak, dishonest and lacking a strong will. Pheidippides - The son of Strepsiades and the original cause of his debts. He enjoys chariot racing and that is how most of the money has been spent. He is young and frequently disrespectful to his father, especially after learning the unjust speech. Q: What is Aristophanes’ criticism of philosophy? A: In Clouds, Aristophanes main criticism of philosophy is that it corrupts the youth, leading them into impiety and thereby endangering society. Q: What are the main characteristics of the clouds as gods? A: The Clouds are characterized as bilious. They state opinions that conform to whatever is convincing at the time. They represent the Sophists' usage of rhetoric to manipulate others. Q: Discuss making the weaker speech the stronger A: This is Aristophanes criticism of rhetoric. From his point of view Sophists used rhetoric to “make the weaker speech the stronger” through manipulation. Q: Explain the discussion between Just Speech and Unjust Speech A: Just speech is more conservative and believes in the old traditions of moderation & respect for authority. Unjust speech is more “newfangled” and critical of the “old” ideas of just speech. Q: Why Aristophanes considers this to be a serious play A: Aristophanes believes that the younger generation is being corrupted by philosophy Q: How Strepsiades dodges debt A: He asks Socrates to teach him the unjust speech so that he can talk his way out of his debts. Q: The ending of the play A: Strepsiades blames Socrates for the behavior of Pheidippides (beating him and threatening to beat his wife). Strepsiades summons his slave Xanthias and they together set fire to the think-ery Plato’s Apology Q: The two accusations against Socrates A: 1st accusation - refusing to acknowledge the gods (impiety) 2nd accusation - corrupting the youth Q: Socrates’ view of the Clouds A: Socrates views Clouds as a false accusation against him and as a misrepresentation of his philosophical views Q: The Oracle of Delphi A: The Oracle of Delphi revealed to one of Socrates’ friends Chaerephon that Socrates’ was the wisest man in Athens. Socrates responded to this revelation by trying to prove the Oracle wrong. Q: The politicians, poets, and manual artisans A: Socrates finds that none of these, the politicians, poets or manual artisans show wisdom. The politicians think they are wise but they are not The public has a better understanding of the poems recited by poets than they themselves do The manual artisans - like the poets, were wise in their craft but unwise in other things Q: Questioning Meletus A: Meletus has no clear definition of corruption of the youth - he also brings forward no witnesses Q: The people and animals to which Socrates compares himself A: In the apology, Socrates compares himself to a gadfly and compares Athens to a horse that needs to be awoken by the gadfly’s presence. Q: The daemon A: We are not exactly sure what Socrates is referring to when he speaks about his “daemon” however it is known that this voice pre-dates the oracle (Socrates first heard it in childhood). It only turns Socrates away from things he is about to do, it never turns him forward. It also apparently opposes him in even small matters. Possible explanations: The Daemon could be Socrates conscience It could be intuition Possibly a united conscience that teaches first principles An angel Q: Socrates’ defense of philosophy A: Socrates makes the claim that the unexamined life is not worth living. He also claims that Athens is in a state of sleep & his philosophizing awakens them from that. His evidence for this point comes from the original revelation of the Oracle being proven true from his point of view since he found no one wiser than himself within Athens. He also believes that the city has a role in cultivating virtue. Q: Socrates’ reasoning on not leaving the city A: Socrates states that if he were put into exile he would continue to philosophize and then be driven out, city to city. He also refuses to keep silent in exile as it would be to disobey the god. Q: Not receiving payment A: Socrates says that he was never a paid teacher, and therefore is not responsible for the corruption of any Athenian youths. Q: What are Socrates' views on death? A: Socrates has 2 views on death, either: It is a great sleep Or a migration of the soul where people get treated accordingly to how they lived their lives (akin to heaven and hell) Meno Q: What is the character of meno? A: Meno is gay Meno is outgoing Meno has several lovers Meno is a potential ruler Meno is ashamed of the shame of being weak Q: Meno’s definition of virtue on pg. 3, 11, and 13 A: Meno’s first definition of virtue is concerned with the responsibilities of gender roles Meno’s second definition of virtue is “both to rejoice and to be capable in beautiful things” Meno’s third definition of virtue is “a power of providing good things for oneself.” Q: Socrates’ discussion on defining shape A: Socrates uses the idea of shape to show the difference between a concept and a manifestation of that concept. A slave boy can learn geometry. Some things have universal understandings / definitions. Q: The importance of goodwill in philosophy (pg. 8) A: The dynamics of pursuing truth changes based on the aggressiveness or friendliness of your interlocutor. No one should make philosophy a competition. It should be a discussion between friends where there is no incentive to make philosophy about “winning”. Q: ​Why all people desire the good A: All people desire good because they inherently desire happiness and fulfillment. All people seek goodness even if their actions are harmful. (e.g. someone may steal bread to feed themself). Socrates says that all people do not choose what is bad, instead they simply may be ignorant of what is good. Crito Q: Character of Crito A: Crito cares about his reputation, he is not very philosophical though he is loyal and defends Socrates. Older man, long-time friend of socrates. Rich. Q: Why Crito wants Socrates to leave A: Crito believes Socrates was given an unjust punishment. Too keep socrates alive Socrates has a family Q: Views on “the many” A: “The Many” are like the wind. The many have power and can kill / punish. Public opinion is often wrong Injustice is intrinsically wicked, but the masses may think revenge is fine’ Q: Discussion on gymnastics A: Like gymnastics one can only learn the skill from the skilled teacher. This is similar to how one can only learn justice from the just man. Q: Returning an injustice A: No being should return an injustice if an injustice were done to you. Q: The discussion between Socrates and the laws of the city A: Socrates believes it is a citizen's duty to submit to the city. Euthyphro: Q: The character of Euthyphro A: Euthyphro is haughty and arrogant. He is trying his father for killing a servant. Materialistic man. Peity for his own benefit (suing his father) Q: Euthyphro’s conception of the gods A: Euthyphro believes the gods embody piety. Piety is what is “dear to the gods”. Euthyphro cites that Zeus imprisoned his own father Cronus. Socrates then refutes this by telling him what Zeus thinks is pious is different to what Apollo thinks. Q: Socrates’ discussion of Meletus A:  Socrates questions whether Meletus actually cares about the virtue of the youth and whether he truly understands the nature of the gods. Socrates teases that justice is greater than the gods, whether the gods are the standard or must they aspire to that said standard. Q: Euthyphro and his father A: Euthyphro says he must try his father because the pious thing to do would be to take the unjust to court. He also references that Zeus imprisoned his own father. Q: Euthyphro’s view on piety A: The Gods are the moral standard we are to look to. What is moral is what is “dear to the gods”