Plato Study Questions

Dr. Santas’ 2010 Study Questions for Plato

Allegory of the Cave (See Notes on Allegory)

1. What is the cave supposed to represent in the “Allegory of the Cave”? What is the outside supposed to stand for? In what ways might we say that we are in a cave? Explain. 2. Why is the escaped prisoner persecuted when he returns to the cave? Explain what Plato might mean here about the path of enlightenment.

Euthyphro (See Notes on Euthyphro)

3. Why does Socrates reject Euthyphro's definition of holiness as "what I am presently doing— prosecuting a wrongdoer"? Explain his reasoning. 4. Why does Socrates reject Euthyphro's definition of holiness as "what is loved by the gods"? Explain his reasoning. 5. Why does Socrates reject Euthyphro's definition of holiness as "what is loved by all the gods"? Explain his reasoning. 6. Why does Socrates reject Euthyphro's definition of holiness as “the part of moral rightness that attends to the gods"? Explain. 7. Socrates is being ironic and even sometimes sarcastic to Euthyphro. Why? What is the method Socrates is using to engage him?

Apology (See Notes on Apology)

8. What did Socrates mean when he said that he's like a gadfly? Whom did he sting? Why did he sting them? Explain. Whom would he sting if he were walking around here? 9. What was Socrates’ mission? How did he come to be on this mission and why did he tell the jury all about it in his defense? Explain. 10. What is Socrates’ definition of wisdom? How did he arrive at this definition? What does this notion of wisdom have to do with his prosecution and defense? Explain. 11. Explain Socrates’ defense against the “corruption of the youth” charge in his dialogue with Meletus. Does he make his point? 12. Explain Socrates’ defense against the “atheism” charge in his dialogue with Meletus. What kind of argument is Socrates offering here? Does he make his point? 13. What was Socrates’ strategy in defending himself in the Apology? Was it a good strategy? Explain.

Crito (See Notes on Crito)

14. Why did Socrates believe that he had an agreement with Athens to obey its laws? Would he say it mattered whether or not he explicitly promised to never break them? Explain. 15. Explain Socrates’ reasoning when he is having the hypothetical dialogue with the Laws. What des it mean to say that his escape would make him a destroyer of the laws? Illustrate with one or more of your own examples. 16. What are Crito’s strongest arguments for Socrates’ escape? What does Socrates find wrong with these? Explain. 17. What are Socrates’ main reasons for staying in prison and facing his execution? What could have Crito said to further challenge his point of view? 18. Compare the reasoning behind Socrates’ act of “civil disobedience” to that H.D. Thoreau in Civil Disobedience, and to that of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Letter from a Birmingham Jail.