Philosophy Classwork
Ancient World Philosophers
Level I - Match the following statements with the philosopher who said it (1 point each)
(a) THALES OF MILETUS
1. Virtue is not god sent it is something
that can be developed
(b) SIDDHARTHA
GAUTAMA
2. Everything that is real must be eternal
and unchanging and must have an
indivisible unity – ALL IS ONE
(c) LAOZI
3. Man is the measure of all things
(d) HERACLITUS
4. When one throws to me a peach, I
return to him a plum
(e) DEMOCRITUS
5. The unexamined life is not worth living
(f) CONFUCIUS
6. Knowing others is intelligence,
knowing yourself is true wisdom
(g) PARMENIDES
7. Happy is he who has overcome his ego
(h) MOZI
8. Nothings exists except atoms and
empty space
(i) PROTAGORAS
9. You can never step into the same river
twice
(j) PLATO
10. The cosmos is made of water
(k) PYTHAGORAS
11. Everything in this world is a ‘shadow ‘
of its IDEAL FORM in the world of
IDEAS
(l) ARISTOTLE
12. We find the truth from evidence
gained in the world
(m) SOCRATES
13. Mathematics is the key model for
philosophical thought. Number is the
ruler of forms. Number is the ruler of
ideas
(n) EPICURUS
14. Peace of mind, tranquility is the goal of
(o) DIOGENES OF
SYNOPY
(p) ZENO OF CITIUM
A10
B7
C6
D9
E8
F1
G2
H4
I3
J11
K13
L12
M5
N14
O 16
P15
life
15. Happiness is a good flow of life
16. He has the most who is most content
with the least
Level II - Answer the following questions with short answers.
1. What is the Socratic method?(4 points)
Socrates had a way of asking questions to his fellow Athenians on their beliefs
and slowly slowly with his questions showing them that they were wrong in what
they proposed. Then he would proceed to tell them his perception of the truth.
His method tests out possible answers to a question, rejecting any
inconsistencies in logic and he slowly slowly approaches the truth
2. Explain what Plato meant by the world of Forms? (4 points)
Plato believed that the world is divided into:
(a) The world of beings - Transcendent beyond space and time, unchanging
world, can only be perceived intellectually. This world stays the same. It is
perceived in our minds.
And (b) The world of becoming - In space and time, everyday world, constantly
changing and you perceive it with your senses. The world of BEING is full of
forms that are the causes of the particular things in the world of BECOMING.
All things have essences/forms and these are located in the world of being. The
world of being is full of ideas.
This points to the belief in a world above space and time, a world of eternal and
absolute beings, corresponding to every kind of thing that there is and causing in
particular things their essential nature.
3. Complete Aristotle’s syllogism. (2 points)
All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man.
Therefore __Socrates is mortal________
4. What was Mozi’s philosophy and what was it aiming for? (4 points)
Mozi’s philosophy was about treating others as you want them to treat you. Mozi
used to say that ‘When one throws to me a peach, I return to him a plum’. He was
aiming for a world in which conflict and war are avoided and this could be
achieved only if everybody applied his philosophy.
5. What was the philosophy of Diogenes of Synop? What was he known for? (4
points)
Diogenes’ philosophy was to live the ideal life you needed to be able to reject all
forms of social custom and instead live as natural as possible. He is known for
living a life of poverty in a tub. He said that ‘He has the most who is most
content with the least.’
Level III – In 200 words answer the following question (10 points)
What do we mean by ‘man is the measure of all things’ suggested by Protagoras?
Evaluate this philosophy of life? Give 2 of its strengths and 2 of its weaknesses.
Protagoras suggested that man is the measure of all things and the best
example used for this statement is the one of temperature. If Ms. X says "it
is hot," then the statement (unless she is lying) is true for her. Another
person, Ms. Y, may simultaneously claim "it is cold." This statement could also
be true for her. If Ms. X normally lives in Alaska and Ms. Y in Florida, the
same temperature (e. g. 25 Celsius) may seem hot to one and cool to the
other. The measure of hotness or coldness is fairly obviously the individual
person. One cannot legitimately tell Ms. X she does not feel hot -- she is the
only person who can accurately report her own perceptions or sensations. In
this case, it is indeed impossible to contradict as Protagoras is held to have
said .
This philosophical approach to life has certain weaknesses. If Protagoras
intends to point to a world where all is relative then his ideas are far beyond
practical. If man, each man, decided their morality, their ethical code, based
on what suits them then where do we draw the line of acceptable and
unacceptable behaviors or lifestyles. Is it ok for the rapist to be a rapist if he
considers it ok for himself? Where is the freedom of the person suffering for
my exercise of my freedom?
Another weakness is that this could easily lead to chaos, no stability. A
society with no rules or laws but in which people act as they please, is a
society that nurtures criminal behavior and insecurity for its citizens. There
are not consequences for any actions, therefore ‘crime’ as one would define
it is left unpunished. Children grow up to have no set of moral laws to
follow, or no ethical code.
The strengths of such a philosophical view are: if we take the example of the
temperature, nobody is lying since it is a matter of how every person
perceives things based on their prior experiences of that knowledge. In this
case both people could be telling something totally valid for both and
Protagoras allows for that to come to the surface.
Another strength is that it puts a lot of emphasis on the freedom of the
individual but also gives him a great responsibility in the exercise of that
freedom. Man decides what is the right way to go therefore helps bring to
surfaces ideas, behaviors, approaches that would otherwise be hidden if all
were following the same route.