The Socratic Turn. A Broad Torpedo Fish

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "The Socratic Turn. A Broad Torpedo Fish"

Transcription

1 The Socratic Turn A Broad Torpedo Fish

2 The Socratic Turn Socrates issues in a new phase of philosophy, issuing in the analytical impulse: He poses a simple, disarming question: What is F-ness? This question catches many of his interlocutors unaware: they claim to be experts on the matter of F-ness, and yet cannot answer simple, direct questions about F-ness when they are put to them. So, e.g.: What is holiness? What is courage? What is virtue?

3 Two Socratic Problems What did Socrates himself believe? Nothing written by him has come down to us. Some testimonia claim that he wrote poetry. Others claim that he wrote nothing at all. Why was Socrates executed? Should he have been? These problems are connected: Socrates seems to have been executed for what he believed and for how he acted upon those beliefs.

4 Socrates in the Apology An apologia is a defense speech in a trial. In 399 B.C., when seventy years old, Socrates was brought to trial by Meletus, Anytus (a powerful politician), and Lycon (about whom virtually nothing is known). The Charge: Impiety Its Specifications: Not recognizing the gods of the state (19b) Making the worse argument stronger (19b) Teaching these same things to the young, so as to corrupt them (24c, 26b)

5 Socrates Response What has caused my reputation is nothing other than wisdom human wisdom (20d-e). The original source of my self-awareness: the oracle at Delphi is reported to have said that there exists no-one wiser than Socrates (21a). The character of this human wisdom: when I do not know something, I do not think I know it (22d).

6 The Result of the Oracle s Assessment Socrates reports puzzlement at the oracle s assessment, and sets about questioning: questioning the self-important, including the politicians (21c-d). questioning the poets, who compose only by inspiration, but then suppose that they are wise (22a-c). questioning the craftsmen, who in fact have knowledge, but who mistake their craft knowledge for something it is not and so overstep their own limits, a mistake which overshadows the wisdom they in fact had (22d-e).

7 The Aftermath The net result: severe unpopularity. Socrates' deprecation of his own human wisdom (23b). Socrates is convicted. Socrates is utterly remorseless (36b-e) and states flatly that he will never stop his investigations, since the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being (38a). Socrates is sentenced to die (34c). He upbraids the jury for their conduct (34c-e). And closes with the thought that death is nothing harmful, since it is either nothing at all or a positive good (40d-41d).

8 Two Incongruities How does Socrates succeed in befuddling everyone, when he is ignorant? His method of questioning and answering, the elenchos, has a definite structure, one which seems to presuppose that he does have some knowledge about the matters he discusses. Is he merely ironic? Simply disingenuous? How does he have such moral knowledge as he professes to have (25c-26a, 29b, 37a-b; cf. Crito 49a-c)?

9 The Socratic Elenchos 1 Phase One: Socrates indulges the analytical impulse: asking a question of the form: What is F-ness? (What is courage? What is justice? What is virtue?) The respondent answers: F-ness is G. (Courage is standing firm in battle. Justice is helping one's friends and harming one's enemies. Virtue is the ability to acquire good things.) Socrates elicits additional beliefs from his respondent. (Is it possible to stand firm in battle because of being frozen by fear? Is it just to help one's friends when they have themselves been unjust? Is virtue always just? Cannot one acquire good things unjustly?)

10 The Socratic Elenchos 2 Phase Two: Socrates shows his interlocutors that their views are internally inconsistent. It is not possible to hold simultaneously, e.g.: (i) virtue is the acquisition of good things; (ii) virtuous activity is always just activity; (iii) the acquisition of good things is sometimes unjust. Socrates' interlocutors realize that they have endorsed an inconsistent set of propositions and so must give something up. Often they feel stung and embarrassed. (Meno 80d) They almost invariably give up their initial response to Socrates' request for an analysis. Socrates professes to share their ignorance and recommends a renewed search for the essence of the moral quality under consideration.

11 The Socratic Elenchos 3 More formally, Socrates elicits from his interlocutors some inconsistent triad, such as: 1. All φ-things are ψ-things. All instances of virtue involve acquiring good things. 2. Some ψ-things are not θ-things. Some instances of acquisition are unjust. 3. Yet, all φ-things are θ-things. All instances of virtue are just. It is not possible to maintain (1), (2), and (3). Hence, something must go. Almost invariably, that something is (1), the initial definition offered by the interlocutor.

12 The Socratic Elenchos 4 An observation and two questions: An observation: from the standpoint of logic, any one of (1), (2), or (3) could be rejected. Question One: why should the interlocutors almost invariably give up (1)? They could simply give up either (2) or (3) and so continue to maintain their original definition. Question Two: if Socrates is ignorant, as he suggests he is, how is be able to perform the elenchos with such remarkable success? The suggestion lies near that Socrates protestations of ignorance are disingenuous. Perhaps he should be understood to be speaking ironically?

13 Civil Disobedience in the Apology To all first appearances, in the Apology Socrates seems poised to engage in civil disobedience (Apo. 29c-d): He recounts how he refused to engage in actions he regarded as illegal or unjust: For instance, he rebuffed those who insisted that members of his council prosecute ten generals who had failed to rescue the Athenian survivors at the battle of Arginusae due to a violent storm. (Apo. 32b) He reports that when the Athenian democracy fell to the oligarchs in 404, he refused to obey their direct commands. (Apo. 32c) In general, Socrates intimates that in cases of conflict, he will obey the demands of god rather than those of the city. Indeed, he seems to hold an uncompromising principle: (AJ) One must always do what justice demands.

14 Civil Disobedience in the Crito Things seem rather different in the Crito. In this dialogue, Socrates seems to hold rather: (NCD) Civil disobedience is never justifiable. (AJ) and (NCD) are formally consistent, but their consistency requires that the laws of the state are unfailingly just. Yet this, as we have seen, Socrates evidently knows that this is false. What is more, we can all see upon a moment s reflection that it is plainly false: some states at some times have unjust laws. So, how should we understand Socrates position here?

15 The Arguments of the Crito The overarching argument: 1. It is never just to wrong anyone willingly (49a). 2. Hence, it is never just, when wronged, to wrong someone willingly in return (49b-c). 3. If Socrates disobeys the law, he will wrong Athens willingly (50b). 4. If Socrates escapes, he will disobey the laws of Athens. 5. Hence, if Socrates escapes, he will wrong Athens willingly. 6. Hence, if Socrates escapes, he will be acting unjustly.

16 On Behalf of (3) 1. If S has a justly made contract with S', then S willingly wrongs S' if S knowingly breaks that contract without having been released from it. 2. Socrates has a justly made contract with Athens either to persuade it as to the nature of justice or to obey its laws. (51b) 3. Socrates has not persuaded Athens as to the nature of justice. 4. Hence, Socrates has a justly made contract with Athens to obey its laws. 5. If Socrates escapes, he will disobey the laws of Athens. 6. Hence, if Socrates escapes, he will knowingly break his contract without having been released from it. 7. Hence, if Socrates disobeys the law, he will wrong Athens willingly (50b).

17 The Source of this Contract? Three Arguments (51e-54d) Two by Analogy, both rather dubious: The Laws are to Socrates as parents are to a child. (51e) The Laws are to a citizen as master to slave. (52d) One from Tacit Consent, rather more promising (51e)

18 Tacit Consent How did Socrates enter into his contract with Athens? One claim: he tacitly consented to its terms. (51e) One query: have you tacitly consented to a contract with the USA (or the land of your birth citizenship)? If so, what were the precise terms of that contract? Persuade or obey? (51b) What if the law commands you to do something manifestly unjust?

What is Freedom? Should Socrates be Set Free? Plato s Crito

What is Freedom? Should Socrates be Set Free? Plato s Crito What is Freedom? Should Socrates be Set Free? Plato s Crito Quick Review of the Apology SGD of DQs Side 1: Questions 1 through 3 / Side 2: Questions 4 through 6 What is the major / provocative takeaway?

More information

Before the Court House

Before the Court House Euthyphro Before the Court House Socrates: the charges Corrupting the young Introducing new gods Euthyphro Prosecuting his father for murder Relative or a stranger? Makes no difference: pollution (miasma)

More information

Socratic and Platonic Ethics

Socratic and Platonic Ethics Socratic and Platonic Ethics G. J. Mattey Winter, 2017 / Philosophy 1 Ethics and Political Philosophy The first part of the course is a brief survey of important texts in the history of ethics and political

More information

Intro to Philosophy, SUM 2011 Benjamin Visscher Hole IV

Intro to Philosophy, SUM 2011 Benjamin Visscher Hole IV Intro to Philosophy, SUM 2011 Benjamin Visscher Hole IV Φιλοσοφία Philos + Sophia Love of Wisdom Historical Contemporary Socrates: The unexamined life is not worth living Philosophy is thinking in slow

More information

The Charges Against Socrates

The Charges Against Socrates Plato, Apology The Charges Against Socrates 2 sets of accusers: 1. The old accusers 2. More recent accusers (formal charges) The Charges from the Old Accusers 1. Socrates busies himself studying things

More information

Ancient Studies History Unit 6 APOLOGY OF SOCRATES

Ancient Studies History Unit 6 APOLOGY OF SOCRATES Student Name: Unit 6 APOLOGY OF SOCRATES Due Date Reading Topic S 11/14 WW 99-106 Plato: The Apology of Socrates - I M 11/16 WW 106-112 Plato: The Apology of Socrates - II T 11/17 WW 112-118 Plato: The

More information

Ancient Studies History Unit 5 TRIAL OF SOCRATES

Ancient Studies History Unit 5 TRIAL OF SOCRATES Student Name: Unit 5 TRIAL OF SOCRATES Due Date Reading Topic S 11/12 A&S 59-62 Biography of Socrates Video - In Class: PBS III- Empire of the Mind Search for a Scapegoat & Trial of Socrates (39:50-55:00)

More information

Agreat trouble for lovers of Socrates is the fact that one of the

Agreat trouble for lovers of Socrates is the fact that one of the Aporia Vol. 15 number 1 2005 Obedience to the State in the Crito and the Apology KYLE DINGMAN Agreat trouble for lovers of Socrates is the fact that one of the central claims espoused in the Crito the

More information

A-LEVEL Classical Civilisation

A-LEVEL Classical Civilisation A-LEVEL Classical Civilisation CIV4A Socrates and Athens Mark scheme 2020 June 2015 Version 1.0: Final Mark Scheme Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with

More information

GREAT PHILOSOPHERS series TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

GREAT PHILOSOPHERS series TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN GREAT PHILOSOPHERS series TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN 1. 26/09 SOCRATES Damien Storey 2. 03/10 PLOTINUS Vasilis Politis 3. 10/10 AUGUSTINE Paul O Grady 4. 17/10 M. CAVENDISH Kenny Pearce 5. 24/10 SPINOZA Jim

More information

Introduction to Philosophy Crito. Instructor: Jason Sheley

Introduction to Philosophy Crito. Instructor: Jason Sheley Introduction to Philosophy Crito Instructor: Jason Sheley Recall again our steps for doing philosophy 1) What is the question? 2) What is the basic answer to the question? 3) What reasons are given for

More information

Chapter 2--How Should One Live?

Chapter 2--How Should One Live? Chapter 2--How Should One Live? Student: 1. If we studied the kinds of moral values people actually hold, we would be engaging in a study of ethics. A. normative B. descriptive C. normative and a descriptive

More information

Reading a Platonic Dialogue. Dramatic Structure Substantive Issues Methodological Issues

Reading a Platonic Dialogue. Dramatic Structure Substantive Issues Methodological Issues Meno Reading a Platonic Dialogue Dramatic Structure Substantive Issues Methodological Issues Reading a Platonic Dialogue Dramatic Structure Substantive Issues Methodological Issues Place: Time: Characters:

More information

Synopsis of Plato s Republic Books I - IV. From the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Synopsis of Plato s Republic Books I - IV. From the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Synopsis of Plato s Republic Books I - IV From the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1 Introduction Since the mid-nineteenth century, the Republic has been Plato s most famous and widely read dialogue.

More information

LODGE VEGAS # 32 ON EDUCATION

LODGE VEGAS # 32 ON EDUCATION Wisdom First published Mon Jan 8, 2007 LODGE VEGAS # 32 ON EDUCATION The word philosophy means love of wisdom. What is wisdom? What is this thing that philosophers love? Some of the systematic philosophers

More information

1. Introduction: issues raised.

1. Introduction: issues raised. Plato's Crito Outline by John Protevi / Permission to reproduce granted for academic use protevi@lsu.edu / http://www.protevi.com/john/fh/pdf/crito.pdf 1. Introduction: issues raised. 2. Genre, context,

More information

404 Ethics January 2019 I. TOPICS II. METHODOLOGY

404 Ethics January 2019 I. TOPICS II. METHODOLOGY 404 Ethics January 2019 Kamtekar, Rachana. Plato s Moral Psychology: Intellectualism, the Divided Soul, and the Desire for the Good. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018. Pp. 240. $55.00 (cloth). I. TOPICS

More information

THE MENO by Plato Written in approximately 380 B.C.

THE MENO by Plato Written in approximately 380 B.C. THE MENO by Plato Written in approximately 380 B.C. The is a selection from a book titled The Meno by the philosopher Plato. Meno is a prominent Greek, and a follower of Gorgias, who is a Sophist. Socrates

More information

OBLIGATION TO OBEY THE LAW: A STUDY OF THE DEATH OF SOCRATES, by Anthony D'Amato [FNa], 49 Southern California Law Review 1079 (1976) (Code A76a)

OBLIGATION TO OBEY THE LAW: A STUDY OF THE DEATH OF SOCRATES, by Anthony D'Amato [FNa], 49 Southern California Law Review 1079 (1976) (Code A76a) OBLIGATION TO OBEY THE LAW: A STUDY OF THE DEATH OF SOCRATES, by Anthony D'Amato [FNa], 49 Southern California Law Review 1079 (1976) (Code A76a) Do we have an obligation to obey any law, no matter how

More information

Scene The Prison of Socrates

Scene The Prison of Socrates Crito By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Persons of the Dialogue SOCRATES CRITO Scene The Prison of Socrates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Socrates. WHY have

More information

Philosophy and the art of questioning - Plato s Euthyphro

Philosophy and the art of questioning - Plato s Euthyphro Philosophy and the art of questioning - Plato s Euthyphro The setting for Plato's early dialog, Euthyphro, is in front of the offices of the magistrate who has registered and will make preliminary inquiries

More information

SOCRATES 469 BC BC ATHENS

SOCRATES 469 BC BC ATHENS SOCRATES 469 BC - 399 BC ATHENS Once assured by the oracle at Delphi that he was the wisest man in Athens, Socrates (470-399 B.C.E.) borrowed his view of life from the inscription at Delphi, "Know Thyself."

More information

Socrates. Already well known by 423 (Arist. Clouds)

Socrates. Already well known by 423 (Arist. Clouds) Socrates and Plato Socrates ca. 470 399 BC. Son of Sophroniscus and Phaenarete Not an aristocrat: mother was a midwife, father a stone mason Potidaea (432); Delium (424) Self taught Sought wisdom through

More information

PLATO. Five Dialogues. Second Edition. Euthyphro Apology Crito Meno Phaedo. Translated by G. M. A. GRUBE. Revised by JOHN M.

PLATO. Five Dialogues. Second Edition. Euthyphro Apology Crito Meno Phaedo. Translated by G. M. A. GRUBE. Revised by JOHN M. PLATO Five Dialogues Second Edition Euthyphro Apology Crito Meno Phaedo Translated by G. M. A. GRUBE Revised by JOHN M. COOPER Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. Indianapolis/Cambridge EUTHYPHRO Euthyphro

More information

Socrates ( BC) The unexamined life is not worth living

Socrates ( BC) The unexamined life is not worth living Socrates (470-399 BC) The unexamined life is not worth living Athens Athens is where this all takes place It s one of the most powerful city-states in all of Greece A democracy recently freed from Spartan

More information

Ethics Prof. Vineet Sahu Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur

Ethics Prof. Vineet Sahu Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur Ethics Prof. Vineet Sahu Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur Module No. #01 Lecture No. #01 Introduction to Ethics Crito - A Socratic Dialogue Hello, welcome

More information

Plato, Apology (Abridged) Internet Classics Archive:

Plato, Apology (Abridged) Internet Classics Archive: Plato, Apology (Abridged) Internet Classics Archive: http://classics.mit.edu/plato/apology.html Document 8.4 While nearly all of Plato s works were written in the form of dialogues, the Apology is unique,

More information

Metaphysics and Epistemology

Metaphysics and Epistemology Metaphysics and Epistemology (born 470, died 399, Athens) Details about Socrates are derived from three contemporary sources: Besides the dialogues of Plato there are the plays of Aristophanes and the

More information

(born 470, died 399, Athens) Details about Socrates are derived from three contemporary sources: Besides the dialogues of Plato there are the plays

(born 470, died 399, Athens) Details about Socrates are derived from three contemporary sources: Besides the dialogues of Plato there are the plays Plato & Socrates (born 470, died 399, Athens) Details about Socrates are derived from three contemporary sources: Besides the dialogues of Plato there are the plays of Aristophanes and the dialogues of

More information

The Trials Of Socrates Six Classic Texts Book Library

The Trials Of Socrates Six Classic Texts Book Library We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with the trials of socrates

More information

Notes on Plato s Apology of Socrates

Notes on Plato s Apology of Socrates Notes on Plato s Apology of Socrates 1. Background a. The Setting: Ancient Athens i. ὅτι μὲν ὑμεῖς, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, πεπόνθατε ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν κατηγόρων, οὐκ οἶδα: ἐγὼ δ οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπ αὐτῶν ὀλίγου ἐμαυτοῦ

More information

Introduction. Pericles reminded the people of Athens it is unique. It is THE leader.

Introduction. Pericles reminded the people of Athens it is unique. It is THE leader. Introduction 1 Pericles reminded the people of Athens it is unique. It is THE leader. 2 His words were important at the time. This came from a speech at the beginning of the Pelopennesian War (war with

More information

The Apology of Socrates. Plato

The Apology of Socrates. Plato The Apology of Socrates By Plato Context The Apology (which in Greek meant defense ) claims to be a record of the actual speech that Socrates delivered in his own defense at the trial. The claim makes

More information

Appendix: Socrates. Shanyu Ji. July 15, 2013

Appendix: Socrates. Shanyu Ji. July 15, 2013 Appendix: Socrates Shanyu Ji July 15, 2013 Socrates life Socrates, 470-399 BC, was the wisest philosopher of his time. He was the first of the three great teachers of ancient Greece (the other two: Plato

More information

The Role of Inconsistency in the Death of Socrates 1

The Role of Inconsistency in the Death of Socrates 1 The Role of Inconsistency in the Death of Socrates 1 The Role of Inconsistency in the Death of Socrates: An Analysis of Socrates Views on Civil Disobedience and its Implications By Said Saillant This paper

More information

Meletus Prosecution Speech. A Fictional Account

Meletus Prosecution Speech. A Fictional Account Meletus Prosecution Speech A Fictional Account Athenians, I will not take up much more of your time, for Anytus and Lycon have yet to speak. Today we are still in festival to Apollo, the second day of

More information

PHIL 115. Socrates Apologia & The Nature of Philosophy. Lecture #7: The Apologia. Socrates Mission! Lydia & Delphi. Socrates Mission!!

PHIL 115. Socrates Apologia & The Nature of Philosophy. Lecture #7: The Apologia. Socrates Mission! Lydia & Delphi. Socrates Mission!! 1 2 PHIL 115 Lecture #7: The Apologia Socrates Apologia & The Nature of Philosophy 3 4 The Oracle at Delphi Socrates Mission! The Oracle was an ancient oracle at which Apollo was believed to give answers

More information

Meno. 70a. 70b. 70c. 71a. Cambridge University Press Meno and Phaedo Edited by David Sedley and Alex Long Excerpt More information

Meno. 70a. 70b. 70c. 71a. Cambridge University Press Meno and Phaedo Edited by David Sedley and Alex Long Excerpt More information Meno meno: 1 Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is teachable? 2 Or is it not teachable, but attainable by practice? Or is it attainable neither by practice nor by learning, and do people instead

More information

SUMMARIES AND TEST QUESTIONS UNIT 1

SUMMARIES AND TEST QUESTIONS UNIT 1 SUMMARIES AND TEST QUESTIONS UNIT 1 Textbook: Louis P. Pojman, Editor. Philosophy: The quest for truth. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN-10: 0199697310; ISBN-13: 9780199697311 (6th Edition)

More information

Knowledge and True Opinion in Plato s Meno

Knowledge and True Opinion in Plato s Meno Knowledge and True Opinion in Plato s Meno Ariel Weiner In Plato s dialogue, the Meno, Socrates inquires into how humans may become virtuous, and, corollary to that, whether humans have access to any form

More information

Jillian Stinchcomb 1 University of Notre Dame

Jillian Stinchcomb 1 University of Notre Dame Jillian Stinchcomb 1 Implicit Characterization in Plato s Euthyphro Plato s Euthyphro, like most Socratic dialogues, has one primary question, which is What is piety? It is also similar to many early Socratic

More information

Provided by The Internet Classics Archive. See bottom for copyright. Available online at

Provided by The Internet Classics Archive. See bottom for copyright. Available online at Provided by The Internet Classics Archive. See bottom for copyright. Available online at http://classics.mit.edu//plato/apology.html Apology By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Socrates' Defense How

More information

The Apology of Socrates. Plato

The Apology of Socrates. Plato Plato The Apology of Socrates Context The Apology (which in Greek meant defense ) claims to be a record of the actual speech that Socrates delivered in his own defense at the trial. This claim makes the

More information

SOCRATES THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED

SOCRATES THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED SOCRATES THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED BIOGRAPHY 469 B.C.E. -399 B.C.E. WHO WAS SOCRATES? Lived during the Golden Age of Athens the foundation of Western culture. He was born ten years after Confucius

More information

Government 203 Political Theorists and Their Theories: Plato Spring Semester 2010 Clark University

Government 203 Political Theorists and Their Theories: Plato Spring Semester 2010 Clark University Government 203 Political Theorists and Their Theories: Plato Spring Semester 2010 Clark University Jefferson 400 Friday, 1:25-4:15 Professor Robert Boatright JEF 313A; (508) 793-7632 Office Hours: Wed.

More information

Can virtue be taught? Nature vs. Nurture Sophists But, what is virtue? Gorgias Protagoras Prodicus

Can virtue be taught? Nature vs. Nurture Sophists But, what is virtue? Gorgias Protagoras Prodicus Plato s Meno Socrates (470-399 B.C.) The Agora in Athens Plato (427-347 B.C.) Can virtue be taught? Nature vs. Nurture But, what is virtue? What is virtue? 71a: Socrates doesn t know 71c: Gorgias knows

More information

The Melian dialogue. 1 I.e., Spartans.

The Melian dialogue. 1 I.e., Spartans. The Melian dialogue Thucydides (see pages 103 and following of the Athens manual) here describes a conversation set during the Peloponnesian War. In 416, during the interlude in the Peloponnesian War known

More information

Why do people commit injustice? What is pleasure?

Why do people commit injustice? What is pleasure? Book I: The Speaker LESSON VII Forensic Rhetoric Why do people commit injustice? What is pleasure? EXERCISES FOR DAY 1: Read Chapter 10, section 1368b. Aristotle discusses the incentives for wrongdoing

More information

Plato & Socrates. Plato ( B.C.E.) was the student of Socrates ( B.C.E.) and the founder of the Academy in Athens.

Plato & Socrates. Plato ( B.C.E.) was the student of Socrates ( B.C.E.) and the founder of the Academy in Athens. "The dying Socrates. I admire the courage and wisdom of Socrates in everything he did, said and did not say. This mocking and enamored monster and pied piper of Athens, who made the most overweening youths

More information

www.onlineexamhelp.com www.onlineexamhelp.com UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level and GCE Advanced Level MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2011 question

More information

Introduction to Ethics

Introduction to Ethics Introduction to Ethics 1 Karsten Harries Introduction to Ethics Lecture Notes Fall Semester 2013 Yale University Copyright Karsten Harries Introduction to Ethics 2 Contents 1. Introduction I. Plato 2.

More information

Plato s Political Philosophy of Justice - Crito and The Republic

Plato s Political Philosophy of Justice - Crito and The Republic Plato s Political Philosophy of Justice - Crito and The Republic Ryan Nolan In Crito, a private dialogue between Socrates and his close friend Crito is detailed by Plato. Socrates, shortly before his execution,

More information

Plato s Challenge. What is justice and why should I want it?

Plato s Challenge. What is justice and why should I want it? Plato s Challenge What is justice and why should I want it? The International Criminal Court A Disagreement about Justice: [Instituted] to guarantee lasting respect for and the enforcement of international

More information

World History I Reading Questions

World History I Reading Questions World History I Reading Questions Instructions: The answers to the questions need to be typed. The responses should be at least one paragraph long (at least 3 or 4 sentences). The paper must be written

More information

Can Excellence Be Taught?

Can Excellence Be Taught? Connecticut College Digital Commons @ Connecticut College Honors and Awards Speeches College Relations 4-30-2008 Can Excellence Be Taught? Derek D. Turner Connecticut College, dtur@conncoll.edu Follow

More information

that which is taken away, usually against one s will one who avoids work, school, or required activities without permission

that which is taken away, usually against one s will one who avoids work, school, or required activities without permission Plato: Crito Crito PLATO Written in dialogue form, Crito recounts the final days of Socrates life. Socrates friend, Crito, has secured Socrates escape from prison and certain death, yet Socrates refuses

More information

Sophie s World. Chapter 4 The Natural Philosophers

Sophie s World. Chapter 4 The Natural Philosophers Sophie s World Chapter 4 The Natural Philosophers Arche Is there a basic substance that everything else is made of? Greek word with primary senses beginning, origin, or source of action Early philosophers

More information

On the Free Choice of the Will, On Grace and Free Choice, and Other Writings

On the Free Choice of the Will, On Grace and Free Choice, and Other Writings On the Free Choice of the Will, On Grace and Free Choice, On the Free Choice of the Will Book EVODIUS: Please tell me whether God is not the author of evil. AUGUSTINE: I shall tell you if you make it plain

More information

Overview Plato Socrates Phaedo Summary. Plato: Phaedo Jan. 31 Feb. 5, 2014

Overview Plato Socrates Phaedo Summary. Plato: Phaedo Jan. 31 Feb. 5, 2014 Plato: Phaedo Jan. 31 Feb. 5, 2014 Quiz 1 1 Where does the discussion between Socrates and his students take place? A. At Socrates s home. B. In Plato s Academia. C. In prison. D. On a ship. 2 What happens

More information

2.0 OBJECTIVES 2.1 INTRODUCTION. Contents

2.0 OBJECTIVES 2.1 INTRODUCTION. Contents Ancient Greek Philosophy UNIT 2 Contents 2.0 Objectives SOCRATES 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Socratic Dialectical Method 2.3 Systematic Divisions of Socrates Philosophy 2.4 The Educational Philosophy of Socrates

More information

Socrates and Justice By Parviz Dehghani

Socrates and Justice By Parviz Dehghani Socrates and Justice By Parviz Dehghani My dear Euthyphro, why are you doing here sitting on the steps of the court? I'm waiting till I'm called to go in. What for? I'm about to have my father indicted.

More information

Philosophy- Euthyphro

Philosophy- Euthyphro Philosophy- Euthyphro http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/euthyphro/summary.html I. Beginning of text a. Surprised why are you at court? Socrates out of his element b. Socrates wrestler; gymnastics, how

More information

Edinburgh Research Explorer

Edinburgh Research Explorer Edinburgh Research Explorer Review of Remembering Socrates: Philosophical Essays Citation for published version: Mason, A 2007, 'Review of Remembering Socrates: Philosophical Essays' Notre Dame Philosophical

More information

Socrates Crito. Why does Socrates Accept Execu6on? Or: The beginning of Poli6cal Philosophy.

Socrates Crito. Why does Socrates Accept Execu6on? Or: The beginning of Poli6cal Philosophy. Socrates Crito Why does Socrates Accept Execu6on? Or: The beginning of Poli6cal Philosophy. Set the scene The sebng is Socrates cell, approx. a month aeer the trial. Word has come that the Athenian state

More information

Plato's Heroic Vision: The Difficult Choices of the Socratic Life

Plato's Heroic Vision: The Difficult Choices of the Socratic Life University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications: Political Science Political Science, Department of 2011 Plato's Heroic Vision: The Difficult Choices

More information

W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 9,

W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 9, MORALIT Y IN REPUBLIC II W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 9, 2 0 1 6 INTRODUCING MORAL PHILOSOPHY Ancient Greek philosophy begins with what are largely epistemic and practical scientific concerns about the

More information

The Republic Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Adeimantus (The Myth of the Gyges) Plato ************* Introduction

The Republic Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Adeimantus (The Myth of the Gyges) Plato ************* Introduction The Republic Translated by Benjamin Jowett Adeimantus (The Myth of the Gyges) Plato ************* Introduction In Book Two of the Republic, Plato employs the Myth of the Ring of Gyges to sharpen the horns

More information

Introduction. pursuing of truth if not right, there are many questions that do arise and need answers in

Introduction. pursuing of truth if not right, there are many questions that do arise and need answers in Jones 1 Catherine Jones Dr. V. Robson Philosophy 17 October 2012 Was Socrates an Enemy of the State? Introduction As philosophy records, the contribution of Socrates to address elements of justice in pursuing

More information

A-LEVEL Classical Civilisation

A-LEVEL Classical Civilisation A-LEVEL Classical Civilisation CIV4A Socrates and Athens Mark scheme 2020 June 2016 Version: 1.0 Final Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant

More information

Lecture 4. Athens and the Sophists 15/09/2010. Today s Lecture

Lecture 4. Athens and the Sophists 15/09/2010. Today s Lecture Lecture 4 S O C R A T E S & T H E S O P H I S T S Today s Lecture In today's lecture we will: 1. Investigate the historical context that surrounded Socrates during his lifetime 2. Understand who the Sophists

More information

Apology. By Plato. Translated by Benjamin Jowett

Apology. By Plato. Translated by Benjamin Jowett Apology By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Socrates' Defense How you have felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost

More information

GREEK PHILOSOPHERS AND GOVERNMENT

GREEK PHILOSOPHERS AND GOVERNMENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS AND GOVERNMENT Think, WRITE, Pair, Share Think and Write Explain what this quote means to you. The unexamined life is not worth living. Join your partner Share and discuss your responses

More information

Plato s Meno. Socrates ( B.C.) Plato ( B.C.) Spring, The Agora in Athens 1/10/2008. But, what is virtue? Can virtue be taught?

Plato s Meno. Socrates ( B.C.) Plato ( B.C.) Spring, The Agora in Athens 1/10/2008. But, what is virtue? Can virtue be taught? Spring, 2008 Plato s Meno Professor James C. Klagge Klagge rhymes with saga Office: 229B Maj. Williams Hall Phone: 231-8487 E-mail: jklagge@vt.edu Office Hours: M 2-3pm, W 3-4, Th 10-11, and by appointment.

More information

Socrates was born around 470/469 BC in Alopeke, a suburb of Athens but, located outside the wall, and belonged to the tribe Antiochis.

Socrates was born around 470/469 BC in Alopeke, a suburb of Athens but, located outside the wall, and belonged to the tribe Antiochis. SOCRATES Greek philosopher Who was Socrates? Socrates was born around 470/469 BC in Alopeke, a suburb of Athens but, located outside the wall, and belonged to the tribe Antiochis. His father was a sculptor

More information

Introduction to Philosophy: Socrates, Horses & Corruption Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere Revised: 4/26/2013

Introduction to Philosophy: Socrates, Horses & Corruption Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere Revised: 4/26/2013 Introduction to Philosophy Paper Page 1 of 20 Introduction to Philosophy: Socrates, Horses & Corruption 2003 2013 Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere ontologist@aol.com Revised: 4/26/2013 Introduction This document

More information

Previous Final Examinations Philosophy 1

Previous Final Examinations Philosophy 1 Previous Final Examinations Philosophy 1 For each question, please write a short answer of about one paragraph in length. The answer should be written out in full sentences, not simple phrases. No books,

More information

TB_02_01_Socrates: A Model for Humanity, Remember, LO_2.1

TB_02_01_Socrates: A Model for Humanity, Remember, LO_2.1 Chapter 2 What is the Philosopher s Way? Socrates and the Examined Life CHAPTER SUMMARY The Western tradition in philosophy is mainly owed to the ancient Greeks. Ancient Greek philosophers of record began

More information

Apology By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Accessed July 19, 2015

Apology By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett   Accessed July 19, 2015 Apology By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett http://classics.mit.edu/plato/apology.html Accessed July 19, 2015 Socrates' Defense How you have felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers,

More information

Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right (1762)

Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right (1762) Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract, or Principles of Political Right (1762) Source: http://www.constitution.org/jjr/socon.htm Excerpts from Book I BOOK I [In this book] I mean to inquire if, in

More information

Text 1: Philosophers and the Pursuit of Wisdom. Topic 5: Ancient Greece Lesson 3: Greek Thinkers, Artists, and Writers

Text 1: Philosophers and the Pursuit of Wisdom. Topic 5: Ancient Greece Lesson 3: Greek Thinkers, Artists, and Writers Text 1: Philosophers and the Pursuit of Wisdom Topic 5: Ancient Greece Lesson 3: Greek Thinkers, Artists, and Writers OBJECTIVES Identify the men responsible for the philosophy movement in Greece Discuss

More information

latter case, if we offer different concepts by which to define piety, we risk no longer talking about piety. I.e., the forms are one and all

latter case, if we offer different concepts by which to define piety, we risk no longer talking about piety. I.e., the forms are one and all Socrates II PHIL301 The Euthyphro - Setting and cast o Socrates encounters Euthyphro as both proceed to court. Socrates is to hear whether he will be indicted. Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for murder.

More information

Plato s Republic - Books 1&2. Instructor: Jason Sheley

Plato s Republic - Books 1&2. Instructor: Jason Sheley Plato s Republic - Books 1&2 Instructor: Jason Sheley We want to understand the motivations for Plato's metaphysical, ethical, and epistemological views. The Phaedo begins with everyone waiting for Socrates

More information

Crito Plato. PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Crito. SCENE: The Prison of Socrates.

Crito Plato. PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Crito. SCENE: The Prison of Socrates. Crito Plato PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Crito. SCENE: The Prison of Socrates. SOCRATES: Why have you come at this hour, Crito? it must be quite early? CRITO: Yes, certainly. SOCRATES: What is the

More information

Meno. Persons of the Dialogue MENO SOCRATES A SLAVE OF MENO ANYTUS

Meno. Persons of the Dialogue MENO SOCRATES A SLAVE OF MENO ANYTUS Meno Persons of the Dialogue MENO SOCRATES A SLAVE OF MENO ANYTUS Meno. Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is acquired by teaching or by practice; or if neither by teaching nor practice, then whether

More information

Ancient Philosophy. Cal State Fullerton Instructor: Jason Sheley

Ancient Philosophy. Cal State Fullerton Instructor: Jason Sheley Ancient Philosophy Cal State Fullerton Instructor: Jason Sheley Classics and Depth Before we get going today, try out this question: What makes something a classic text? (whether it s a work of fiction,

More information

The Context of Plato. CommonKnowledge. Pacific University. Michelle Bingaman Pacific University

The Context of Plato. CommonKnowledge. Pacific University. Michelle Bingaman Pacific University Pacific University CommonKnowledge Humanities Capstone Projects College of Arts and Sciences 2010 The Context of Plato Michelle Bingaman Pacific University Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.pacificu.edu/cashu

More information

Passages for Professor Walker s Plato Class (3/27/18)

Passages for Professor Walker s Plato Class (3/27/18) Passages for Professor Walker s Plato Class (3/27/18) 1 I. Epistemic Humility Euthyphro 6b: SOCRATES: Indeed, Euthyphro, this is the reason why I am a defendant in the case, because I find it hard to accept

More information

The Culture of Classical Greece

The Culture of Classical Greece The Culture of Classical Greece Greeks considered religion to be important to the well being of the state and it affected every aspect of Greek life. Twelve chief gods and goddesses were believed to reside

More information

APOLOGY BY PLATO TRANSLATED BY BENJAMIN JOWETT

APOLOGY BY PLATO TRANSLATED BY BENJAMIN JOWETT APOLOGY BY PLATO TRANSLATED BY BENJAMIN JOWETT 1891 The Apology By Plato. This edition was created and published by Global Grey GlobalGrey 2017 Get more ebooks at: https://www.globalgreyebooks.com CONTENTS

More information

Plato s Ethics Saturday, September 6, 2014

Plato s Ethics Saturday, September 6, 2014 Plato s Ethics Unity of the virtues Courage = wisdom = piety Knowledge of good and evil = generosity = temperance = prudence Unity of the virtues? Courage Wisdom Piety Generosity Temperance Prudence Socratic

More information

- An adduction through a discussion of Gorgias and Socrates point of views

- An adduction through a discussion of Gorgias and Socrates point of views - An adduction through a discussion of Gorgias and Socrates point of views Hajdin Abazi Abstract The object of this treatise is a comparison between Gorgias and Socrates views on rhetoric, namely the truth

More information

Plato s Rationalistic Method. Hugh H. Benson. (please cite that version)

Plato s Rationalistic Method. Hugh H. Benson. (please cite that version) Plato s Rationalistic Method Hugh H. Benson Published in Blackwell Companion to Rationalism, ed. Alan Nelson (2005), pp. 85-99. (please cite that version) It is a commonplace that the two greatest Greek

More information

Phil 435: Philosophy of Language. P. F. Strawson: On Referring

Phil 435: Philosophy of Language. P. F. Strawson: On Referring Phil 435: Philosophy of Language [Handout 10] Professor JeeLoo Liu P. F. Strawson: On Referring Strawson s Main Goal: To show that Russell's theory of definite descriptions ("the so-and-so") has some fundamental

More information

Crito Plato. Introduction. Translated by Benjamin Jowett

Crito Plato. Introduction. Translated by Benjamin Jowett Translated by Benjamin Jowett Introduction. The seems intended to exhibit the character of Socrates in one light only, not as the philosopher, fulfilling a divine mission and trusting in the will of heaven,

More information

Knowledge in Plato. And couple of pages later:

Knowledge in Plato. And couple of pages later: Knowledge in Plato The science of knowledge is a huge subject, known in philosophy as epistemology. Plato s theory of knowledge is explored in many dialogues, not least because his understanding of the

More information

Based on the translation by Benjamin Jowett, with minor emendations by Daniel Kolak. Persons of the Dialogue MENO SOCRATES A SLAVE OF MENO ANYTUS

Based on the translation by Benjamin Jowett, with minor emendations by Daniel Kolak. Persons of the Dialogue MENO SOCRATES A SLAVE OF MENO ANYTUS Meno By Plato Based on the translation by Benjamin Jowett, with minor emendations by Daniel Kolak. Persons of the Dialogue MENO SOCRATES A SLAVE OF MENO ANYTUS Meno. Can you tell me, Socrates, whether

More information

The Conflict Between Authority and Autonomy from Robert Wolff, In Defense of Anarchism (1970)

The Conflict Between Authority and Autonomy from Robert Wolff, In Defense of Anarchism (1970) The Conflict Between Authority and Autonomy from Robert Wolff, In Defense of Anarchism (1970) 1. The Concept of Authority Politics is the exercise of the power of the state, or the attempt to influence

More information

Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates. Plato

Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates. Plato Plato Table of Contents...1 Plato...1 INTRODUCTION...1 THE APOLOGY OF SOCRATES...3 INTRODUCTION TO THE CRITO...17 CRITO; OR, THE DUTY OF A CITIZEN...18 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHAEDO...27 PHAEDO; OR, THE IMMORTALITY

More information

PHIL 102 Ancient Philosophy

PHIL 102 Ancient Philosophy PHIL 102 Ancient Philosophy Sandrine Berges berges@bilkent.edu.tr FA114C 1 Contents Course particulars...3 Readings...4 Assessment...5 Weekly syllabus...7 Notes on how to interpret a text...8 Weekly homework...12

More information

Comment on Martha Nussbaum s Purified Patriotism

Comment on Martha Nussbaum s Purified Patriotism Comment on Martha Nussbaum s Purified Patriotism Patriotism is generally thought to require a special attachment to the particular: to one s own country and to one s fellow citizens. It is therefore thought

More information