Philosophy Worksheet: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

In Plato’s Apology, it is explained that Socrates has a reputation of being an evil-doer. What reason does Socrates give for the accusations against him?

• Socrates had cheated on his wife with a man named Alcibiades.

• Delphi had declared Socrates the wisest of men, sparking his quest to find a man wiser than himself.

• Euthyphro attacked Socrates after he refused to prosecute Euthyphro’s father.

• Socrates wrote a dialogue rejecting the mainstream pantheon of gods in favor of his Daimonion

Book 2 of Nicomachean Ethics is concerned with theoretical knowledge (i.e. the nature of virtue and virtuous actions).

• True

• False

In Socrates’ Euthyphro, he questions whether the pious is loved by the gods because it is pious or is it pious because it is loved by the gods. What is the philosophical problem raised by this question?

• The gods disagree on what is pious, so there can be no universal morality.

• If the gods love piety because it is pious, then piety is independent of the gods.

• If something is pious only because the gods love it, then morality is irrelevant.

• Both B and C

In the Apology by Socrates, he argues that fearing death is irrational because no one knows whether death is good or bad.

• True

• False

Socrates claims that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” What does this mean?

• A life needs pleasure.

• A life without questioning, reflection, and pursuit of wisdom is incomplete.

• Wealth provides happiness.

• A life without honor from the city has no value.

Socrates agrees with Crito that escaping from prison is the morally correct decision, since saving one’s own life is always the highest priority.

• True

• False

1. Learning objectives: B, A. In Crito by Plato, Socrates' main arguments for refusing to escape his holding cell are _____. 

• A) He is worried that he will be judged by the Athenian society.

  
  

• B) He believes that by escaping, he is breaking the laws of the society he is socially contracted by and would be committing an injustice. 

  
  

• C) He wishes to die to solidify himself as a martyr.

  
  

• D) He is physically unable to flee because he is too old.

  
  

In his defense speech, Socrates alludes to the "gadfly" metaphor. What does this metaphor hint about how Socrates is viewed in Athens?

• He spreads infectious lies to cause havoc in the community

• He tends to stay out of state affairs and watch from a distance

• He creates public disarray in order to promote thinking and prevent complacency

• He acts as a spiritual guard, allowing for Athens to live in peace

Socrates believes that he has the duty to escape from prison in order to show out against the injustice that landed him there.

• True

• False

In Book 1 of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle asserts that political science is the "master art," because it is above all of the other sciences and controls them to achieve a higher purpose.

• True

• False