Great Books I Study Questions for Assignment 26
Study Questions for Assignment 26 -- Plato's Republic
  1. 330a  When, at the house of Polemarchus, Socrates asks Cephalus, Polemarchus's father, whether it's only his wealth that makes old age easy for him to bear, how does Cephalus refute it?
  2.  331b  According to Cephalus, why does money help one do right?
  3. 331c  How does Socrates turn this conversation into one about the nature of morality?
  4.  335b-d  How does Socrates get Polemarchus to admit that a good person never harms anyone, even his enemies?
  5. 338c What is Thrasymachus's definition of morality?
  6.  342a-e How does Socrates refute this position?
  7. 351d-352c  Why does Socrates argue that immorality is less effiicent and useful than morality, contrary to Thrasymachus's position?
  8. 367b-e  What challenge do Glaucon and Adeimantus lay before Socrates?


    9. The Ideal Community

  9. 368d-369a  Why is this Book about a republic, or community, when the discussion was originally about morality?
  10. 369b-373c  How do communities start and grow?
  11. 373d-374d  What gives rise to war, and what additional profession in the community arises as a result? Why can't the others who are already in the community serve this function?
  12.  375a-376c  What must the Guardians be like? Why?


    13. Cultural Education

  13.  376d-392d   What is the first kind of education Socrates considers, physical or cultural? In these sections, what is Socrates' main point about the content of stories in relationship to education?
  14.  392d-398b  Why does Socrates oppose representational (dramatic) storytelling style in this ideal community? (395c, 396d, 398a-b)
  15. 398c-400c  What is Socrates' conclusion about the kinds of music permissible in the ideal community?
  16. 400d-403c  What is the connection between morality and beauty? In other words, why is learning to appreciate beauty and quality in all things necessary to education?


    17. Physical Education

  17. 404b  What is the best kind of physical education?
  18. 410b-412a  What is the overall goal of education?
  19. 412e  What is the sole duty of the Guardians?
  20. 416e-417b  What kind of life must the Guardians lead?
  21. 419a-421b  What is Socrates' answer to the accusation that this life will not be the happiest for the Guardians?
  22. 423e-424e   Where must the Guardians build their "lookout post" and why?

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