This is just a list of terms, examples, concepts, etc. that you ought to be familiar with, and some questions you should be able to address. Simply memorizing terms isn't sufficient for understanding the class material, of course, but this might be of some use to you as a start to approaching what you ought to know. This list is in addition to the items mentioned explicitly in the essay questions; I've haven't included those items here, for the sake of saving time and space. Look over the list of possible reading response paper too to get a handle on what we've covered.

Apology

• The charges against Socrates
• The two sets of accusers
• Who were the 'natural philosophers'/pre-Socratics?
• Who were the sophists
• Why does Socrates think he is ignorant?
• In what way does he think he is wiser than other people?
• The elenchus
• Why does Socrates think he is benefiting the citizens of Athens?
• Why does he think that in unjustly convicting him they harm themselves and not him?
• Socrates' argument for why death is a blessing

• Necessary conditions, sufficient conditions
• Ostensive definitions and their shortcomings
• Divine Command Theory of ethics and criticisms of it
• Aporia

• Cephalus' definition and Socrates' refutation of it
• Polemarchus' definition of justice and Socrates' refutation of it
• The craft/techne analogy, and how Socrates uses it to try to refute Thrasymachus
• "Justice is the advantage of the stronger"--what does this mean?
• What is Thrasymachus' conception of the good life?
• Why does Socrates turn to a discussion of justice in the city state?
• Why are cities formed, according to Socrates?
• What is the Principle of Specialization?
• What sorts of things does Socrates propose to censor, and why?
• What is the Noble Lie, and why does Socrates propose telling it?
• Akrasia/weakness of will
• Argument for the soul having three parts
• Relationship between 'Platonic justice' and 'ordinary/conventional justice'

  Return to the Ancient and Medieval Philosophy page.