Acient ethics Milestone PDF

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answers for the ancient Greek philosophers. Sophia.org...

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You passed this Milestone 20 questions were answered correctly. 5 questions were answered incorrectly. 1

According to Socrates in the Phaedo, why might death be an advantage to the philosopher?  Death is the ultimate distinction between knowledge and opinion.  In life, the Social Contract requires people to behave according to the needs and wants of others.  Eyes, ears, and other bodily organs can distract one from the attainment of truth and knowledge.  Only humans can seek knowledge and truth, but their ability to do so ends with death.

RATIONALE The Phaedo is a conversation between Socrates and his students about death. It takes place just before his execution. During this conversation, Socrates explains why philosophers should not fear death, which he defines as the end of the life of the body, but not of the soul. Socrates views the body as an impediment to the acquisition of wisdom and truth. Therefore, a philosopher may be able to find answers after death that cannot be found during life.

CONCEPT The Phaedo: The Death of Socrates

2

Which branch of philosophy examines the ultimate nature of reality?  Natural philosophy  Metaphysics  Epistemology 

Cosmology

RATIONALE Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that is concerned with discovering and describing the ultimate nature of reality. Cosmology is the study of the universe in its totality, natural philosophy examines nature and the universe, and epistemology analyzes and defends concepts of knowledge.

CONCEPT What is Philosophy?

3

In the Apology, Socrates states that a good person does what he knows to be right despite __________.  the wisdom of the gods  the laws of man  risking fame and fortune  negative personal consequences

RATIONALE The Apology is Plato's transcription of the defense Socrates presented at his trial on charges of "denying the gods" and "corrupting the youth of Athens." In it, Socrates asserts that he does not fear death, because he has lived as he believed was right. To Socrates, it is more important to live rightly than to avoid death and other negative personal consequences.

CONCEPT The Apology: A Defense of Philosophy

4

Kenny is a chef who is trying to determine how carefully he should focus on details while doing his job. He wants to avoid being too detail-oriented because it would be inefficient for him to do so. However, if he doesn't pay enough attention to details, the quality of the food he prepares will be inconsistent. According to Aristotle’s ethics, this is an example of the __________.  Function Argument

 Ethics of Virtue  Doctrine of the Mean  Doctrine of the Forms

RATIONALE Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean states that virtue must be cultivated as a rational mean between extremes. Kenny's efforts to find the correct level of detail-focus to succeed in his job illustrates this doctrine.

CONCEPT Aristotle's Highest Good

5

“I view the world as a mathematical entity of perfect harmony.” Which ancient philosopher would most likely have made this statement?  Pythagoras  Xenophanes  Anaxagoras  Protagoras

RATIONALE Pythagoras was the Pre-Socratic philosopher who incorporated mathematics into his philosophical worldview. He saw the world as a mathematical entity of perfect harmony, and assigned significance to numbers that occur in nature.

CONCEPT Cosmology and the First Philosophers

6

The value of the Socratic Method lies in showing students how to __________ on their own, rather than having it dictated to them.  gain knowledge

 evaluate an opinion  explain rhetoric  create an argument

RATIONALE The Socratic Method is a pedagogical method in which a teacher asks questions to which the student knows the answers, thereby leading him or her to the truth. The Method's value lies in showing students how to use what they know to gain additional knowledge.

CONCEPT The Socratic Approach

7

When Alan joins the military, he discovers that the philosophy of Stoicism is popular with his fellow soldiers. All of the following describe reasons why Stoicism is a good fit for the military, EXCEPT:  Courage in battle is measured by the efficiency of one's actions.  Soldiers must remain impassive to what is outside their control.  It is important for soldiers to do their jobs with skill and dispassion.  Stoicism emphasizes personal control of emotions and actions.

RATIONALE All of these statements indicate why Stoicism is a good fit for the military except for the suggestion that it improves courage in battle because it makes soldiers more efficient. Stoicism can make soldiers less fearful of outcomes beyond their control, thus enhancing their courage. However, the principles of Stoicism do not create a relationship between courage and efficiency.

CONCEPT Stoicism: The Ethics of Dispassion

8

Select the statement that would most likely have been made by Aristotle.  “What is true is always true, independent of wisdom, language, or knowledge.”  “We must begin with the world we encounter every day, rather than with the abstraction of metaphysics.”  “The world is unchanging and eternal, which conflicts with the illusion that life is neither.”  “New things do not come into existence; rather, things change their organization.”

RATIONALE The statement that "We must begin with the world we encounter every day" reflects Aristotle's philosophical approach. To Aristotle, all knowledge is grounded in human experience, and flows from empirical evidence. The statements which involve change are reflective of Parmenides and the Atomists. The statement about truth existing independent of wisdom, language, or knowledge is reflective of Plato's philosophy.

CONCEPT Aristotle: The Dissection of Reality

9

In the passage below, Socrates imagines a dialogue between himself and Athens, personified as the laws: “Then the laws will say: ‘Consider, Socrates, if we are speaking truly that in your present attempt you are going to do us an injury. For, having brought you into the world, and nurtured and educated you, and given you and every other citizen a share in every good which we had to give, we further proclaim to any Athenian by the liberty which we allow him, that if he does not like us when he has become of age and has seen the ways of the city, and made our acquaintance, he may go where he pleases and take his goods with him. None of us laws will forbid him or interfere with him. Anyone who does not like us and the city, and who wants to emigrate to a colony or to any other city, may go where he likes, retaining his property. But he who has experience of the manner in which we order justice and administer the state, and still remains, has entered into an implied contract that he will do as we command him.’”

Reconstruct the argument from this text and choose the sentence that accurately states the main premise of Socrates’ argument.  Our senses do not provide us with truth, so the soul must attain truth without the distraction and deception caused by bodily experiences.  By neither leaving Athens nor attempting to change its laws, Socrates consented to the terms of a Social Contract with Athens.  Socrates believes that taking advantage of opportunities to save his life would be giving in to his enemies, and approving his own destruction.  An unjust act is obvious, just as a just act is obvious, but unless we know the true essence of justice, we cannot judge others.

RATIONALE In this selection from the Crito, "the laws" remind Socrates that Athens has provided him many benefits, including sustenance, education, and liberty, including the freedom to leave Athens with all of his worldly property if chose to do so. However, anyone (including Socrates) who "still remains . . . has entered into an implied contract . . .” to obey the laws and judgements of the state. The main premise of Socrates' argument, therefore, is that since he neither left Athens nor attempted to change its laws, he has consented to the terms of a Social Contract with the state.

CONCEPT The Apology — Socrates' Arguments

10

Which of the following is NOT an example of Aristotle’s notion of hylomorphism?  Bodily organs and a human being  A statue and a human being  The soul and a human being  An unborn child and a human being

RATIONALE

Aristotle's notion of hylomorphism states that being is a relationship, a union of form and matter. All of the examples that signify relationships are cases of hylomorphism: bodily organs (matter) and human beings (form); an unborn child (matter) and a human being (form); human beings (matter) and the soul (form). There is no ontological relationship between a statue and a human being, so this is not an example of hylomorphism.

CONCEPT Aristotle on What There Is

11

All of the following are central tenets of Aristotle’s ethics, EXCEPT:  Something is good when it excels at its function.  An action is evaluated based on how it informs character.  Knowing the essence of a thing can justify a belief.  Any virtue can become a vice.

RATIONALE Aristotelian ethics are concerned with topics which include determining what makes actions good or bad, and how to define virtue. According to Aristotelian ethics, it is important to know the essence of a thing, not because it can justify a belief, but because it determines function which, in turn, determines virtue or excellence.

CONCEPT Aristotle's Highest Good

12

Heraclitus' Logos is part of his __________.  ethics  mathematics  metaphysics  science

RATIONALE Heraclitus asserted that true reality is the Logos, a Greek word that can be translated as “account.” Since metaphysics is the branch of philosophy concerned with discovering and describing the ultimate nature of reality, the Logos is part of Heraclitus' metaphysics.

CONCEPT Heraclitus and the Doctrine of Impermanence

13

For Plato, the Forms are the __________ foundation of reality, which means that knowledge of reality is grounded in knowledge of the Forms.  metaphysical  natural  logical  ethical

RATIONALE Plato was interested in abstract concepts (e.g., being and substance). These concepts are the subjects of the field of philosophy known as metaphysics. Plato wanted to know how these concepts exist in reality (i.e., their essences). Therefore, Plato's Forms were his metaphysical notion of the essences that ground the knowledge of reality.

CONCEPT Plato's Forms: The Objects of Knowledge

14

All of the following statements are central themes of Parmenidean metaphysics, EXCEPT:  All change is illusory.  Complex phenomena can be explained as having been caused by the gods.  Reasonable assumptions can lead to paradoxes.

 This worldview transcends opinion to examine the world as it is.

RATIONALE Parmenides was a Pre-Socratic philosopher. He sought answers to questions about the universe that did not involve the gods or other supernatural forces. His philosophical explanations (like those of other Pre-Socratics) was naturalistic. All of the other statements accurately represent Parmenidean metaphysics.

CONCEPT Parmenides and the Doctrine of Permanence

15

Choose the statement that both Plato and Aristotle would agree is true.  “The ideals of Beauty and Truth are not of this world.”  “Ideals are similar to mathematical objects or entities.”  “The physical sciences are a source of eternal knowledge."  “A human being is 'human' because he or she reflects the Form of a Human.”

RATIONALE Plato and Aristotle disagreed on all of these points except for the position that a human being is "human" because he or she reflects the Form of a Human. Although they also disagreed on where essences were located, Plato and Aristotle were both metaphysicians who believed that essences, or Forms, were real entities that existed and provided the basis for truth and knowledge.

CONCEPT Plato vs. Aristotle: The Mathematician or the Biologist

16

Which of the following statements about Aristotle’s metaphysics is FALSE?  In order for a statement to be true, one must state that an object exists, what the object is, and the state in which it exists. 

The distinction between form and matter is purely conceptual— one does not, and cannot, exist without the other.  Humans have the natural capacity to know many things without divine revelation or empirical evidence.  Examining the nature of being, and knowing what kinds of things exist, is a sensible beginning point for philosophical inquiry.

RATIONALE Aristotle would agree with all of these statements except the suggestion that we can have knowledge without empirical evidence. To Aristotle, all knowledge is grounded in human experience and flows from empirical evidence.

CONCEPT Aristotle on What There Is

17

A Stoic avoids looking for good in external things and recognizes that value __________.  has little to do with ethics  lies in our judgment of the world  is determined by intrinsic personality traits  can be found in every living entity

RATIONALE Stoicism is a philosophical approach that encourages people to focus only on what they can control (e.g., their desires, emotions, reactions, and judgments of the world). They should not be concerned by things that are beyond their control. Stoicism directs people to focus on their internal values rather than external rewards.

CONCEPT Stoicism: The Ethics of Dispassion

18

When Crito tries to convince Socrates that he must not betray his own life, how does Socrates respond?

 He says that all life has value, but society determines the fate of man.  He says that he is not afraid of dying and knows that his followers will restore his good name.  He says that what is right is often misunderstood by mortals and must be left to the gods.  He says that life would not be worth living if the principle of justice was violated.

RATIONALE In the Crito, Socrates' friend (Crito) tried to convince him to escape and avoid execution. Socrates refused to do so, and explained why escape would be wrong. Socrates asserted that not all life has intrinsic value; only the good life does. Since he believed that he would violate the principle of justice (established by the Social Contract) by avoiding death, Socrates refused to avoid it.

CONCEPT The Crito: The Duties of the Social Contract

19

Socrates differed from the pre-Socratics in that his interests were primarily in __________.  the true nature of reality  ethics and epistemology  how the universe works  cosmology and natural philosophy

RATIONALE The focus of Socrates' philosophy was different from that of the Pre-Socratic philosophers. He investigated questions involving ethics and epistemology. The PreSocratic philosophers had focused on natural philosophy and cosmology.

CONCEPT Socrates: The Father of Western Philosophy

20

Which of the following statements about the atomistic worldview is FALSE?  All reality is composed of atoms in a void.  Atoms come in different shapes and sizes, and can exist in a number of ways.  Everything that exists is either an atom or a collection of atoms.  A philosophical atom is the same as a chemical atom.

RATIONALE The atomists believed that everything that exists is either an atom, or a collection of atoms. They also believed that all matter and phenomena are the result of different configurations of atoms of different shapes and sizes. However, a philosophical atom is not the same as a chemical atom. To the atomists, a philosophical atom was an indivisible entity. Chemical atoms, as science has demonstrated, can be divided into smaller parts.

CONCEPT The Atomistic Worldview

21

For Plato and his Doctrine of Forms, a person can determine whether an act is courageous if he or she can __________.  accurately describe the Form of Courage  explain what courage means in the real world  clearly understand the value of courage  imagine an unambiguously courageous action

RATIONALE According to Plato, the Forms are the basis of our knowledge of reality. All worldly objects participate in (i.e., imitate) their corresponding Form that exists in Platonic Heaven. We can determine whether an act is courageous if we know, and can describe, the Form of Courage.

CONCEPT

Applying Plato's Metaphysics

22

Kendra believes that women have a right to choose to have an abortion. Select the statement that is consistent with Kendra's belief.  “I voted for this presidential candidate because she supports a woman's right to have an abortion.”  "The man should have an equal say in whether or not a woman ends her pregnancy.”  “Every woman should be a mother; it is our function and purpose as human beings.”  “Some women use abortion as a form of birth control, which is wrong.”

RATIONALE To live philosophically, a person must examine his or her beliefs to ground them in knowledge, and then act according to those beliefs. By voting for a presidential candidate who supports a woman's right to have an abortion, Kendra displays a consistent philosophical worldview.

CONCEPT Philosophical Analysis as a Way of Life

23

Being a good parent is a __________ condition for having a child. Apply conceptual analysis to this statement and choose the answer that correctly describes the relationship.  sufficient, not necessary  neither necessary nor sufficient  both necessary and sufficient  necessary, not sufficient

RATIONALE Being a good parent is not a necessary condition, or logical requirement, for having a child because there are people who have children who aren't good parents. In order

to be a parent, a person must have a child. That makes being a good parent a sufficient, but not a necessary condition for having a child.

CONCEPT Plato: An academic approach to concepts

24

All teachers are robots. Cynthia is a teacher. Therefore, Cynthia is a robot. Evaluate the argument and select the option that describes it.  Inductive, weak, uncogent  Inductive, strong, cogent  Deductive, invalid, sound  Deductive, valid, unsound

RATIONALE Because the inferential claim in this example is one of logical certainty, and is about definition and form rather than cause and effect, this is a deductive argument. Since a case in which the premises are true and the conclusion is false cannot exist, this argument is valid. However, this argument is unsound because the first premise is false: Not all teachers are robots.

CONCEPT Evaluating an Argument in Action

25

Which of the following statements about the metaphysical tenets of Plato’s Doctrine of the Forms is FALSE?  Forms must exist in order for knowledge to be possible.  The Forms exist in an intellectual realm that is fixed and never-ending.  Perfection in the Forms does not exist in Platonic Heaven.

 There is a cause and effect relationship between Forms and their earthly counterparts.

RATIONALE All of the statements about aspects of Plato's metaphysics are true, except for the suggestion that perfect Forms do not exist in Platonic Heaven. This statement describes Aristotle's metaphysics, not Plato's. Platonic Heaven is where Plato believed Forms, or perfect metaphysical entities, exist.

CONCEPT Plato Forms: The Foundations of Bein...