Question 1

What are the three groupings of citizens envisioned by Plato in The Republic ?

Accepted Answer

A) Farmers, officials, and philosophers 
B) Farmers, priests, and guardians 
C) Craftspeople, soldiers, and rulers 
D) Craftspeople, auxiliaries, and guardians 
E) Farmers, craftspeople, and kings 
A) Farmers, officials, and philosophers 
B) Farmers, priests, and guardians 
C) Craftspeople, soldiers, and rulers 
D) Craftspeople, auxiliaries, and guardians 
E) Farmers, craftspeople, and kings

Question 2

What was a core difference between the theories of Aristotle and Plato?

Accepted Answer

A) Aristotle was more rooted in the physical world, Plato in the mystical. 
B) Aristotle was less willing to educate political elites. 
C) Aristotle had a mystical perspective that Plato lacked. 
D) Aristotle was less concerned with practical politics. 
E) Aristotle was far more idealistic than Plato. 
A) Aristotle was more rooted in the physical world, Plato in the mystical. 
B) Aristotle was less willing to educate political elites. 
C) Aristotle had a mystical perspective that Plato lacked. 
D) Aristotle was less concerned with practical politics. 
E) Aristotle was far more idealistic than Plato.

Question 3

How did Plato view democracy, based on his experiences?

Accepted Answer

A) He distrusted it as the cause of Socrates' execution and Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War. 
B) He viewed it positively, as a fountain of civic virtue. 
C) He supported it as a defense against abuse of the people by the rich and powerful. 
D) He opposed it; it was a way for the poor and uneducated to rise above their station. 
E) He recommended it to Athenians as a way for talented statesmen to rise from the lower classes. 
A) He distrusted it as the cause of Socrates' execution and Athens' defeat in the Peloponnesian War. 
B) He viewed it positively, as a fountain of civic virtue. 
C) He supported it as a defense against abuse of the people by the rich and powerful. 
D) He opposed it; it was a way for the poor and uneducated to rise above their station. 
E) He recommended it to Athenians as a way for talented statesmen to rise from the lower classes.

Question 4

According to Aristotle, what is the key element that separates humans from animals, including the social ones?

Accepted Answer

A) Animals have a greater capacity for happiness. 
B) Humans can form families. 
C) Humans are capable of rational thought. 
D) Animals are incapable of using tools. 
E) Humans can create a functioning state. 
A) Animals have a greater capacity for happiness. 
B) Humans can form families. 
C) Humans are capable of rational thought. 
D) Animals are incapable of using tools. 
E) Humans can create a functioning state.

Question 5

According to the theory of becoming, what was the underlying principle of the universe?

Accepted Answer

A) Constancy 
B) Change 
C) Illusion 
D) Fate 
E) Divinity 
A) Constancy 
B) Change 
C) Illusion 
D) Fate 
E) Divinity

Question 6

What event was central to Athens' fate and Plato's life during his lifetime?

Accepted Answer

A) Earthquake in Athens 
B) Slave rebellion in Greece 
C) Economic depression 
D) War with Sparta 
E) War with Persia 
A) Earthquake in Athens 
B) Slave rebellion in Greece 
C) Economic depression 
D) War with Sparta 
E) War with Persia

Question 7

Who was the philosopher who first challenged Plato's theories?

Accepted Answer

A) Thales 
B) Pythagoras 
C) Democritus 
D) Aristotle 
E) Thucydides 
A) Thales 
B) Pythagoras 
C) Democritus 
D) Aristotle 
E) Thucydides

Question 8

What did Plato see as the foundation of the state?

Accepted Answer

A) The pursuit of a just life 
B) Dread of chaos 
C) A war of all against all 
D) A quest for power and wealth 
E) The inability to live a solitary existence 
A) The pursuit of a just life 
B) Dread of chaos 
C) A war of all against all 
D) A quest for power and wealth 
E) The inability to live a solitary existence

Question 9

Why was Plato sold into slavery by the ruler of Sicily?

Accepted Answer

A) Plato was involved in a sex scandal. 
B) The ruler was afraid that Plato was trying to overthrow him. 
C) Plato was involved in financial impropriety. 
D) The ruler tired of his political counsel. 
E) Plato offended members of the local elite. 
A) Plato was involved in a sex scandal. 
B) The ruler was afraid that Plato was trying to overthrow him. 
C) Plato was involved in financial impropriety. 
D) The ruler tired of his political counsel. 
E) Plato offended members of the local elite.

Question 10

On what point did Socrates find agreement with the Sophists?

Accepted Answer

A) It was essential to accept the decisions of civil authority. 
B) The purpose of life was to find happiness. 
C) The gods did not exist. 
D) It was possible to acquire universal knowledge. 
E) Virtue was subjective and not very important. 
A) It was essential to accept the decisions of civil authority. 
B) The purpose of life was to find happiness. 
C) The gods did not exist. 
D) It was possible to acquire universal knowledge. 
E) Virtue was subjective and not very important.

Question 11

What is the logical end of a tyrant's existence?

Accepted Answer

A) Satisfaction 
B) Insanity 
C) Perversion 
D) Impiety 
E) Remorse 
A) Satisfaction 
B) Insanity 
C) Perversion 
D) Impiety 
E) Remorse

Question 12

What does Plato see as the root of a tyrant's immoral behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Conscious rejection of justice 
B) A quest for the approval of the mob 
C) Lack of rational thought 
D) Imperfect knowledge of justice 
E) Bad parental examples 
A) Conscious rejection of justice 
B) A quest for the approval of the mob 
C) Lack of rational thought 
D) Imperfect knowledge of justice 
E) Bad parental examples

Question 13

What did Socrates recommend as a political path for his students?

Accepted Answer

A) To involve themselves deeply in political life, regardless of their morality 
B) To serve their state and society in ways other than politics 
C) To search for what is moral in the political environment 
D) To look for a virtuous life in political activity 
E) To avoid politics and other corrupting influences 
A) To involve themselves deeply in political life, regardless of their morality 
B) To serve their state and society in ways other than politics 
C) To search for what is moral in the political environment 
D) To look for a virtuous life in political activity 
E) To avoid politics and other corrupting influences

Question 14

What did Plato state is the highest form of happiness?

Accepted Answer

A) The pursuit of a just life 
B) The quest for political power 
C) The pursuit of wealth 
D) Establishment of a family legacy 
E) Life in accordance with the gods 
A) The pursuit of a just life 
B) The quest for political power 
C) The pursuit of wealth 
D) Establishment of a family legacy 
E) Life in accordance with the gods

Question 15

Examine Aristotle's vision of a ruler. What are the roles of virtue and political abilities in an ideal ruler? Further, what are the key differences between Aristotle's vision of the ruler and Plato's vision?

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's vision of a ruler is deeply

Question 16

What are the three basic types of good constitutions in Aristotle's view? Explain the advantages of each and how each can each be perverted by an unjust ruler.

Accepted Answer

In Aristotle's view, there are three bas

Question 17

How did Plato see the nature of human knowledge?

Accepted Answer

A) Capable of perfect insight 
B) Incapable of rationality 
C) Imperfect and limited 
D) Essentially logical 
E) Perfect and infallible 
A) Capable of perfect insight 
B) Incapable of rationality 
C) Imperfect and limited 
D) Essentially logical 
E) Perfect and infallible

Question 18

What did the Ionians advocate for answering important questions?

Accepted Answer

A) Myth 
B) Oracles 
C) Revelation 
D) Rationality 
E) Tradition 
A) Myth 
B) Oracles 
C) Revelation 
D) Rationality 
E) Tradition

Question 19

Why does Plato believe that people engage in unjust behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Human nature is essentially evil. 
B) They have an incomplete understanding of justice. 
C) All people are essentially selfish. 
D) Both the state and the soul are fallible. 
E) People are vulnerable to temptation. 
A) Human nature is essentially evil. 
B) They have an incomplete understanding of justice. 
C) All people are essentially selfish. 
D) Both the state and the soul are fallible. 
E) People are vulnerable to temptation.

Question 20

Who was the leader who, as a youth, was taught personally by Aristotle?

Accepted Answer

A) Pericles 
B) Xenophon 
C) Alexander 
D) Leonidas 
E) Philip 
A) Pericles 
B) Xenophon 
C) Alexander 
D) Leonidas 
E) Philip

What are the three groupings of citizens envisioned by Plato in The Republic ?

What was a core difference between the theories of Aristotle and Plato?

How did Plato view democracy, based on his experiences?

According to Aristotle, what is the key element that separates humans from animals, including the social ones?

According to the theory of becoming, what was the underlying principle of the universe?

What event was central to Athens' fate and Plato's life during his lifetime?

Who was the philosopher who first challenged Plato's theories?

What did Plato see as the foundation of the state?

Why was Plato sold into slavery by the ruler of Sicily?

On what point did Socrates find agreement with the Sophists?

What is the logical end of a tyrant's existence?

What does Plato see as the root of a tyrant's immoral behavior?

What did Socrates recommend as a political path for his students?

What did Plato state is the highest form of happiness?

Examine Aristotle's vision of a ruler. What are the roles of virtue and political abilities in an ideal ruler? Further, what are the key differences between Aristotle's vision of the ruler and Plato's vision?

What are the three basic types of good constitutions in Aristotle's view? Explain the advantages of each and how each can each be perverted by an unjust ruler.

How did Plato see the nature of human knowledge?

What did the Ionians advocate for answering important questions?

Why does Plato believe that people engage in unjust behavior?

Who was the leader who, as a youth, was taught personally by Aristotle?

Why Politics Matters

Modern Political Theory

The American Government

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Authoritarian Systems of Government

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Legislatures

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

Filters

Exam 2: Ancient Political Theory

What are the three groupings of citizens envisioned by Plato in The Republic ?

What was a core difference between the theories of Aristotle and Plato?

How did Plato view democracy, based on his experiences?

According to Aristotle, what is the key element that separates humans from animals, including the social ones?

According to the theory of becoming, what was the underlying principle of the universe?

What event was central to Athens' fate and Plato's life during his lifetime?

Who was the philosopher who first challenged Plato's theories?

What did Plato see as the foundation of the state?

Why was Plato sold into slavery by the ruler of Sicily?

On what point did Socrates find agreement with the Sophists?

What is the logical end of a tyrant's existence?

What does Plato see as the root of a tyrant's immoral behavior?

What did Socrates recommend as a political path for his students?

What did Plato state is the highest form of happiness?

Examine Aristotle's vision of a ruler. What are the roles of virtue and political abilities in an ideal ruler? Further, what are the key differences between Aristotle's vision of the ruler and Plato's vision?

What are the three basic types of good constitutions in Aristotle's view? Explain the advantages of each and how each can each be perverted by an unjust ruler.

How did Plato see the nature of human knowledge?

What did the Ionians advocate for answering important questions?

Why does Plato believe that people engage in unjust behavior?

Who was the leader who, as a youth, was taught personally by Aristotle?

Why Politics Matters

Modern Political Theory

The American Government

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Authoritarian Systems of Government

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Legislatures

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

Filters