Let Go My Plato Flashcards
(18 cards)
Socrates declares his love for [], then spends the rest of the dialogue
rehearsing the many reasons [] needs him. Socrates’ attempts to woo [] away
from politics fail.
First Alcibiades
Socrates makes his defense of the charges against him; Anytus,
Meletus, and Lycon are the accusers. The charges are corrupting the youth, not respecting the
gods, and according to Socrates, being a curious person. He also says he is not afraid of death,
and his downfall will be the gossip and slander about his charges rather than the charges
themselves.
Apology
Socrates and [], a man known for being a religious expert, attempt to
pinpoint a definition for piety. The definitions include [] prosecuting his father for
manslaughter (rejected as merely an example), what the gods approve of, and that piety is a part
of justice.
Euthyphro
Socrates refuses []’s offer to finance his escape from prison because it would be
unjust. This dialogue contains an ancient statement of the social contract theory of government.
Crito
Socrates, its namesake, and Zeno of Elea debate the oneness of form (beauty,
goodness, etc.). In other words, they argue about the nature of duality and monism, touching on
the subject of Spinoza’s ethics.
Parmenides
major/minor – occur with the namesake sophist; the major is on beauty and the minor
is on lying.
Hippias
Attempts to determine the definition of virtue, meaning in this case virtue in general,
rather than particular virtues (e.g. justice, temperance, etc.). The goal is a common definition
that applies equally to all particular virtues.
Meno
Argument is between the elderly [], a celebrated sophist, and Socrates.
The discussion takes place at the home of Callias, and concerns a familiar theme in the
dialogues: the teachability of virtue. A total of twenty-one people are named as present.
Protagoras
Details the final days of Socrates and contains the scene of his death. The dialogue is
told from the perspective of one of Socrates’ students, [] of Elis. Theme covers the
immortality of the soul.
Phaedo
About Plato; introduces new Concept of the Forms = more mundane and downto-earth, and makes more clear the epistemological and metaphysical puzzles; solves the puzzle
of the false and the right opinion, as well as of the justified true belief
The Sophist
Plato is the one speaking, and he discusses the ancient war between Athens and
Atlantis, and the downfall of Atlantis.
Critias
Between Socrates and its namesake; ostensibly about the topic of love, the
discussion in the dialogue revolves around the art of rhetoric and how it should be practiced,
and dwells on subjects as diverse as reincarnation and erotic love
Phaedrus
Satirizes the logical fallacies of the Sophists. It describes a visit paid by Socrates
and various youths to two brothers, [] and Dionysodorus. [] and
Dionysodorus continually attempt to ensnare Socrates with deceptive and meaningless
arguments
Euthydemus
Plato sets the rhetorician, whose specialty is persuasion, in opposition to the
philosopher, whose specialty is dissuasion, or refutation.
Gorgias
Last dialogue by Plato; the question asked at the beginning is not “What is law?” as one
would expect. The first question is rather, “Who is given the credit for laying down your laws?”
Laws
– followed by Critias, is by Plato. It discusses the nature of the physical world, the
purpose of the universe, properties of the Universe, and the creation of the soul of the world.
Also lists the elements and their respective shapes
Timaeus
It is on the nature of love, with speeches given by Phaedrus, Pausanias,
Aristophanes, Agathon, Socrates, and Alcibiades. Plato regards love as the essential ingredient
of the philosophic path.
Symposium
Scene of the dialogue is the house of Polemarchus at Piraeus. It contains the
“allegory of the cave” argument. It also discusses justice and the theory of forms, as well as the
theory of universals and the four forms of government.
The Republic
