PHI 2010: Review Sheet for First Test
Terms
Philosophy
Wisdom
Five branches and questions
Four historical periods
Socrates’ problem
Euthyphro problem
Piety
daimonia
Divine command theory
Natural law theory
Apology
Socrates’ method
Social-contract theory
Dualism
Theory of ideas/forms
Pre-Socratics
Sophists
Asceticism
Hegelianism
Existentialism
Irony
Life-view
Stages of existence
Rotation method
Study Questions
1. Early in the dialogue how does Euthyphro attempt to define piety and how does Socrates respond?
2. What difference does it make whether pious acts are loved because they are pious or pious because they are loved?
3. What is the relationship between dread and awe? How does the relationship between dread and awe apply to the definition of piety?
4. If no satisfactory definition of piety is proposed, what is the use of the entire discussion in this dialogue? What positive and negative conclusions can be drawn?
5. What are the charges against Socrates and how does Socrates defend himself against his accusers? Are you persuaded by his defense? Why or why not?
6. What did the oracle at Delphi say and how did Socrates respond?
7. Based on Plato’s dialogues, what specifically can be identified as Socrates’ philosophy? Do you agree with it? Why or why not?
8. Explain one of Socrates’ views of death. Do you agree with this view? Why or why not?
9. What does Crito want of Socrates and how does Socrates respond? Whose view do you favor and why?
10. What is Aristophanes’ conception of Socrates? How does this conception compare to Plato’s? What is Kierkegaard’s view of the relationship between these two conceptions? Is either conception more valuable than the other? Why or why not?
11. Considering the dialogue Euthyphro as a methodological guideline, discuss how the concept of “wisdom” could be defined.
12. Identify and explain three major concepts in Kierkegaard’s early writings. Do you agree with Kierkegaard on these points? Why or why not?
13. Identify and explain the three stages of existence. Also cite an example of each stage from Kierkegaard’s writings. Do you agree with Kierkegaard on these points? Why or why not?
14. Why is boredom such a threat and how does the rotation method ward off boredom?
15. Why must someone who lives the aesthetic life not “stick fast” to anything—not have friends, not marry, not have a career?
16. How does Judge William distinguish between romantic love and marital love? Why does marital life require virtues like patience, faithfulness, and sincerity?
17. What’s the difference between A’s either/or and Judge William’s either/or?
18. Compare and contrast the aesthetic and the ethical stages of existence.
19. Explain the significance of the structural elements of Either/Or and significance of the pseudonyms Victor Eremita, A, and Judge William.