Philosophy and Religion - AP European History

Sophistry went on to become a somewhat pejorative designation for certain kinds of philosophy and logic. As a social group, however, Sophists were simply traveling intellectuals who taught rich Greek youths for money.

Diogenes of Sinope is a noted cynic more remembered for his prominent role in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche and various stories about him than his actually enumerated philosophical thinking. Diogenes rejected the academic life, and was never a member of Plato's Academy. In fact, Diogenes' most notable interaction with Plato came when Diogenes humiliated Plato by disproving Plato's definition of a man. While Diogenes did wander between cities, he was not a religious ascetic.

It is true that Diogenes lived in an empty wine bucket by choice. For some time his only possession was a wooden bowl, which he destroyed after seeing a peasant boy eat with his hands. He would also wander the streets in broad daylight carrying a lantern and shouting that he was looking for a just man.

In his most famous work The Republic, Plato presents his idea of a government ruled by “Philosopher Kings.” Plato believed that in order for society to be ruled benevolently and most effectively either philosophers needed to rule or kings needed to embrace philosophy.

In the ancient Greek pantheon, Hermes was the messenger God. Hermes often appears in Greek mythology as a guide for heroes and assists them in their quests.

Socrates was infamously put to death on charges of "Corrupting the Youth of Athens", and his intellectual successor Plato lived and taught there as well, so Athens would be the best choice. Sparta was not known for its philosophy or intellectual life and Socrates did not live there, so it would not be a good answer. Argos was a city-state at the time of Socrates, however he had no ties there, so it too would not be a good choice. Corinth, too, was a city-state that existed in that period but had no ties to Socrates, so it too would not be a good answer. Finally, Macedon was a more traditional kingdom in the mainland of Greece, so as it was not a city-state at all, it would not be a good choice.

The Republic is one of Plato's better known works, and in it he posits the ideal form of government and famously explores the idea of the philosopher king, so that would be the best choice. Democracy and Theology do not refer to any one work, but rather to entire systems of government, and as such they would not be good choices. Finally, Gorgias is a Socratic dialogue, and while it was recorded by Plato it was not his work directly, nor did it discuss social organization, so it would not be a good answer.

Aristotle was a student of Plato and attended the Academy in Athens, as well as tutoring Alexander the Great, so he would be the best choice. Socrates predated the Academy and taught Plato himself, so he would not be a good choice for this question. Epicurus was a child roughly when Alexander the Great was coming to power and Archimedes lived many years after him, so neither of them would be good answers.

Plato is arguably most famous for The Allegory of the Cave, in which he describes the World of Forms, and he founded the Academy, so he would be the best choice. Socrates was Plato's teacher and he did not have a concept of the World of Forms, so he would not be a good answer. Aristotle was taught by Plato and he attended the Academy himself, so he would not be the best choice. Lastly, Epicurus and Archimedes did not conceive of the World of Forms nor did they have any ties to the Academy, so they would not be good choices for this question.

Plato’s Republic was written in the fourth century BCE. It is one of the most important philosophical works of all time and remains widely influential today. The Republic is written in the style of a Socratic dialogue. It focuses on questions of justice in Greek society and how to most justly govern a society.

Demeter is the Greek Goddess of fertility and the harvest. She is important in Greek mythology because she is believed to have introduced agriculture to the prehistoric Greek people. Demeter was revered in ancient Greek society and was the subject of widespread cult worship.

In Greek mythology Prometheus is a tragic figure. He introduces fire to mankind and in doing so greatly improves the standard of living. But, this was apparently not part of Zeus’ plan and Zeus condemned Prometheus to eternal torture.

The Greek Goddess Demeter was believed to have introduced agriculture to the Greek people. She was revered as the Goddess of fertility and the harvest, and was the subject of cult-like worship in many ancient Greek societies.

A major pre-Socratic philosopher, Thales held that water as the unifying principle or system by which the universe operated. Thus, he believed that all parts of life came from water. This principle extended to his cosmological belief that the Earth itself floated on water.

Pythagoreanism is the set of beliefs outlined by later philosophers, like Plato and Aristotle, ascribed to followers of Pythagorus of Samos, widely credited as the discoverer of the Pythagorean theorem. Knowing this, one might be tempted into the answer stating that "all of life was strictly dependent on mathematics." Pythagoreanism, however, emphasized math as an example of the kind of harmony people should seek in all aspects of life. The school of thought, while heavily invested in mathematics as a guiding philosophical principle, was not exclusive in its emphasis on mathematical harmony.

Leucippus is widely credited with the development of the pre-Socratic theory of atomism. Atomism was a materialist philosophy whose first principle was that the world was composed of tiny indivisible parts, called atoms.

Diogenes Laertius was a historiographer and biographer of philosophers who actually disputed the historical existence of Leucippus. Epicurus is a later philosopher, and rather obviously, is more associated with Epicurean philosophy rather than atomism.

Although ancient Greek philosophy is usually associated with Athens more than any other city-state, it actually first emerged among the Ionian Greeks (living in modern-day Turkey). The Ionians were the center of Greek culture and wealth in the seventh century BCE. It was here that Pre-Socratic philosophy, as it is generally referred to, was first developed.

In the ancient Greek pantheon, Hephaestus was the God of blacksmiths and craftsmen. Hephaestus is generally presented as physically handicapped and is often mistreated by the other Gods as a result.

In the ancient Greek religion there was an extensive pantheon of Gods. Each God or Goddess was associated with certain areas of life, occupations, and ideals. All of these Gods are correctly paired with the areas of life they were said to watch over, except Poseidon. Poseidon was the God of sailors, horses and the sea.

Anaximander, Thales of Miletus, and Anaximenes are the three main figures in the so-called “Ionian Awakening.” They were the first three major philosophers in ancient Greek history and were all part of the Milesian school of thinkers. Parmenides, on the other hand, lived in southern Italy and founded the Eleatic school of philosophy.

The philosophical tradition of atomism, or the belief that all things are composed of atoms, was first developed by the ancient Greek Democritus. Democritus and Leucippus developed the original atomic theory of the universe. They argued that everything was composed of atoms, which were indivisible and indestructible.