Sophie's World: Democritus, Fate, the Sophists, and Socrates



I.
What was Democritus' main contribution to Natural Philosophy? (pp. 41-46)

A.
Sophie's Lego: Hidden Assumptions and Rhetorical Bias (pp. 41-42)

B.
Sophie's Lego and Democritus' Atoms: What are the "essential" qualities? (pp. 42-43)

C.
The Problem of Infinite Regress (p. 43)

D.
Materialism




II.
Fate (pp. 47-55)

A.
What is "fatalism"?

B.
Does Sophie invite the philosopher to tea when her mother is at home or a work? Defend your answer. (p. 49)

C.
What was written overr the entrance to the Oracle at Delphi?

D.
What is the essence of the Hippocratic Oath?




III.
The Sophists and Socrates (pp. 56-71)

A.
"The Philosopher" leaves a question and three statements for Sophie on the back of his answer to her letter. List two of these four items.

B.
What was a "Sophist"?

C.
What do philosophers mean by rhetoric?

D.
What do philosophers mean by skepticism?

E.
What is an agnostic?

F.
How do we know about Socrates if he never wrote down any of his philosophy?

G.
How did Socrates teach? What method did he use?

H.
How did Socrates' project differ from the philosophical project of the "pre-socratic" philosophers?

I.
What is rationalism?

J.
What did Socrates mean when he said "The person who knows what good is will do good"?

K.
Why was Socrates executed?





For a few questions related to Donald Palmer's discussion of Socrates in chapter one of Does the Center Hold?, click here.