Home: Polsc 301: Study Guide for Exam 1

Study Guide for Exam 1

Introduction to Political Thought
Dr. Laurie M. Bagby

Names, Terms, Concepts:

idealism

realism

Socrates and Plato (and their relationship)

The Republic

Chaerephon, Polus, Gorgias, Callicles--who they were, their perspectives

Athens

Sicily (importance of, during Peloponnesian War)

direct democracy (as opposed to today's representative democracy)

cosmologists

sophists

Confucius, life and teachings (video and handout available online)

dialectic

rhetoric, rhetoricians

"flattery"

Pericles (video, Gorgias)

Peloponnesian War (Sparta vs. Athens--video)

art v. "knack"

natural v. conventional

courage v. cowardice

the rightly ordered soul

the leaky jar analogy

George Will, "Statecraft as Soulcraft" (parallels)

state sponsored gambling (parallels)

Tartarus, the Islands of the Blessed

Study Questions:

1. Compare and contrast Socrates' views on good government, good political leadership, and learning with those of Confucius.

2. What type of leader is the "true orator" or "moral artist" whom Socrates praises in the Gorgias? How does he differ from the typical leader of Socrates' day, such as Pericles? Would the "true orator" use rhetoric?

3. How can Socrates argue that Gorgias is at all responsible for what his students do with his teaching? How does Gorgias argue that he is not responsible? Which argument do you find most persuasive?

4. Explain Callicles' theory of how democratic ideas such as equality and justice emerged. Why does he call such ideas merely conventional and not natural. What does Callicles think is natural when it comes to ruling.

5. What did Socrates think of Athens' democracy? How would Polus or Gorgias react to Socrates' views on democracy? How would Callicles react?

6. Explain why we can call Plato an idealist, making sure you clearly define idealism. What about Callicles' argument makes him more of a realist? Show how the differences between these two men reveal the differences between idealism and realism.

7. Why does Polus admire the tyrant Archelaus? What did this tyrant do, and what does Polus's admiration of him tell us about Polus' views on rhetoric and politics generally?

8. Why does Callicles call Socrates "unmanly?" How does Socrates turn the tables on Callicles and call him cowardly? Explain the arguments behind their accusations.