Philosophy 313
Study sheet for midterm –
Midterm: February 23, 2011
The following list of terms and concepts is to assist you in studying for the short answer
section of the test. There will be 10 short answer questions on the test, of which you are
to answer 8 (5 points each):
Socratic method
knowledge vs. opinion
fact/value distinction
justice
parts of the soul
more reality/more satisfaction
analogy of the cave
Ideas (or Forms)
teleology
righteous indignation
habituation
happiness
mean
pleasure/happiness distinction
reason
vice and virtue
good friends
first nature/second nature
TRC
overcompensation
capital punishment
moderation in all things
Two of the following essay questions will be on the midterm (just as they appear here),
and you are to write on one of them (60 points):
1. In the Euthyphro, Socrates questions Euthyphro about the nature of holiness. This form
of questioning has often been called the Socratic method. Explain his Socrates' manner of
questioning. This process of questioning also led both to Socrates' eventual trial and
conviction, and it led to his conclusion that if he is wise it is only insofar as he knows that
he knows nothing. What motivated Socrates' questioning, and how did it lead to these two
results, and what in particular is meant by asserting that he is wise insofar as he knows
nothing?
2. Aristotle argues that to be happy we must make the right decisions as consistently and
often as we can. Detail the argument that Aristotle lays out to justify this claim and
elaborate what it means and entails. Turn then to discuss why virtue is the same thing as
making the “right decisions,” or why only the virtuous person can be happy. And finally,
discuss the TRC as it relates to what Aristotle argues.
3. Both Plato and Aristotle set out to determine what is just, best, and good in human
actions, but they each come to a very different conclusion about what these moral
judgments look like. Compare and contrast Plato and Aristotle on these points and in the
context of examples detail who you think provides the best account of ethics.