PLATO- Context

Question 1

When is the Symposium set?

Answer 1

416 BC

Question 2

When was the Symposium written?

Answer 2

Between 385-370 BC

Question 3

What is the Socratic method?

Answer 3

Elenchus

Question 4

What is elenchus?

Answer 4

Clarifying thinking, challenging assumptions, using evidence as arguments, exploring alternative perspective, considering the consequences, questioning the question.

Question 5

When was the Peloponnesian War?

Answer 5

431-404 BC

Question 6

Who was the Peloponnesian War fought against?

Answer 6

Sparta and Athens

Question 7

When was Socrates excecuted?

Answer 7

399 BC

Question 8

Why was Socrates excecuted?

Answer 8

For allegedly ‘corrupting the youth’.

Question 9

When does Plato found the Academy?

Answer 9

380 BC

Question 10

When does Plato die?

Answer 10

347 BC

Question 11

Who is Socrates?

Answer 11

Famous Greek philosopher who taught Plato. He never wrote any of his thoughts down, meaning all we know about him is via Plato’s dialogues. He served in the army during the Peloponnesian war but was executed in 399 BC. It is contested whether Socrates voices his own opinion in the dialogues or whether he acts as the mouthpiece of Plato’s ideas.

Question 12

Who is Phaedrus?

Answer 12

The eremenos to Eryximachus

Question 13

Who is Pausanius?

Answer 13

An ancient Athenian and lifelong partner of Agathon.

Question 14

Who is Eryximachus?

Answer 14

A doctor and the erastes to Phaedrus

Question 15

Who is Aristophanes?

Answer 15

Comic playwright. He made fun of Socrates in his plays, for examples: “The Clouds.”

Question 16

Who is Agathon?

Answer 16

Tragic playwright. The Symposium (drinking party) is being held for him to celebrate his victory in winning the play writing contest. He is also the lifelong partner of Pausanius.

Question 17

Who is Alcibiades?

Answer 17

He was a statesman and general in Athens who lead the disastrous Sicilian Expedition. He betrayed Athens, fled to Sparta then shifted his allegiance to Persia before being tried and executed in Athens in 404 BC. Famous war historian, Thucydides, refers to uncontrolled desire explaining the reason for the Sicilian Expedition and this desire is mirrored in the Symposium.

Question 18

What are Plato’s four big ideas?

Answer 18

Think more, let your love change you, decode the messages of beauty, reform society

Question 19

Why did Plato set up the Academy?

Answer 19

Potentially in response to sophists (philosophers who charged for their teaching services) and also to potentially rebuilt the reputation of Socrates