Ancient Greek Quiz 6 Questions and Answers
• What are two of the reasons Socrates gives in the Apology for why he does not fear death? -
... [Show More] Considerations of life and death are selfish and unimportant next to considerations of justice. He also does not know what awaits him in the afterlife so he does not fear it.
- Socrates claims that no harm can come to a good man. What does he mean? - Harm is in the soul
• According to Socrates, why has he decided not to use pity as a defense tactic (i.e., why does he not plead with the jury, cry, and bring in his family)?
- It would be shameful and embarrassing, he would be asking the jury to consider facts that are irrelevant to the case at hand, he would be asking the jurymen to break their oath of judging justly and impartially
• Socrates' accusers propose death as his punishment. What does Socrates propose as a counter-punishment? - That he be given free dining in the Prytaneum
• Crito gives several arguments for why Socrates should escape from prison. (a) Explain three of them. (b) Explain Socrates' response to each.
- 1: Socrates' death will reflect badly on his friends (One should not worry about public opinion, but only listen to wise and expert advice)
- 2: If he stayed he would be aiding his enemies in wronging him unjustly, which would make him unjust (Laws of Athens- to break one would be to break them all and would cause great harm)
- 3: He would be leaving behind his sons (He should only be concerned with living well, not preventing death)
• According to the laws of the city (personified by Socrates in the Crito), (a) what is the agreement that Socrates has made with them? (b) According to the laws, is this a just agreement or an unjust agreement, and why (give at least two reasons)? (b) Explain two of the ways in which Socrates would be wronging the laws if he disobeys them by escaping prison.
- A) The State is only held together by the Laws, and the Laws are only binding if they hold no matter what the circumstances
- B) A just agreement because of the role they have played in shaping Socrates: Through the laws that his parents were married and had him, and the laws the provided for his upbringing and education
- C) Not agreeing to this one law would be destroying the laws as a whole, and Socrates would be more guilty than most because he has, until now, endorsed Athenian Law and the Athenian way of life.
• Crito asks Socrates how they should bury him. (a) What is Socrates' response, and (b) what reasoning does he give for this response? - Crito can do what he pleases because
Socrates' soul will leave his body and he will live on eternally so that body is no longer Socrates
- Why does Socrates not want to delay taking the poison? - To delay is clinging to desperately to life, and he has no reason to fear death
• In the last scene of the Phaedo, what does the servant (or guard) tell us about Socrates' behavior during his imprisonment? - He says that Socrates is the noblest, gentles, and bravest man he has ever met [Show Less]