Examination Questions

On the first examination, you will have to write about eight pages on some of the following topics. You may not have a choice of topics.

Your answers should be models of clarity & organization. Write in a way that will be understandable to someone who is being introduced to the subject matter. Define terms and give examples.

There will be three kinds of questions:

I. Identification & Definition (1/2 page)

Names (century, central ideas)

Thales	Anaximander	Anaximenes
Parmenides	Zeno	Empedocles
Pythagoras	Democritus

Key Terms (meaning & significance for Greek philosophy)

φύσις & νόμος	κόσμος & χάος	φυσιολόγοι
ἐλέγχυς	ἀπορία	εἶδος & ἰδέα

Shorter answers (2 pages)

1. Who were the Milesian philosophers? In what sense were they the first philosophers? How is Socratic philosophy like Milesian philosophy? How is it different?

2. Compare & contrast Socrates & the Sophists with respect to their goals, doctrines, & methods.

3. What is Eleatic philosophy? What are its doctrines? What arguments did Parmenides offer for it? How did Zeno contribute to its defense? (Include in your answer at least one argument of Parmenides & one of Zeno.)

Longer answers (4 pages pages)

4. What are the main theses of the philosophy of Democritus? What problems he trying to solve? How did it propose to solve them?

5. What is Plato’s Theory of Forms? What problems does it solve? What does it say? What significance does it have for ontology, epistemology, & ethics?

6. What is the contemporary significance (“legacy”) of Plato’s philosophy?

7. What is the contemporary significance (“legacy”) of Democritus’ philosophy?