Premium Essay

Philosophy Test Essay

In:

Submitted By eckema30
Words 588
Pages 3
Test Essay Questions
Question #1
Chaerephon asked the omniscient oracle if there was anyone wiser than Socrates, and the Oracle replied there was not. Socrates becomes very perplexed by the answer for he knew the Oracle could not tell a lie & he knew he had no certain wisdom or knowledge.
In order to test the claim of the Oracle, Socrates began to question Athenian men whose knowledge was highly respected such as the politicians, the poets, and craftsmen. He found that the politicians who thought they were very wise, in fact knew nothing at all. The poets were incapable of explaining their works; Socrates concluded that their genius came not from wisdom but from some sort of instinct or inspiration which was in no way connected to their intellect. Furthermore, these poets seemed to think they could speak intelligently about all sorts of matters concerning which they were quite ignorant. In the craftsmen, Socrates found men who truly did have great wisdom in their craft, but invariably, they seemed to think that their expertise in one field allowed them to speak authoritatively in many other fields, about which they knew nothing. In each case, Socrates affirmed that he would rather be as he is, knowing that he knows nothing, than to be inflated by a false sense of his own wisdom. Thus, he concludes, he truly is wiser than other men because he does not think he knows what he does not know.
Though many people take Socrates to be an expert in the fields of which he questions others, he denies an expertise and interprets the Oracle as saying that the wisest of men are men who humbly accept that their wisdom is deficient. Since the oracle has proclaimed him to be the wisest of men, he feels it his duty to show others that human wisdom does not come from any specialized knowledge, as the politicians or poets or craftsmen would like to claim, but rather from a

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Pathways to Philosophy Writing a Philosophy Essay

...There is no technique, or recipe, or set of guidelines for writing an essay in philosophy. — That statement might not appear very helpful. To the beginner, the very idea of a philosophy essay seems mysterious, and the prospect of having to write one quite intimidating. Any attempt to explain the nature of philosophical writing in the abstract, however, merely serves to deepen the mystery. All one can say is that once you have started to grapple with various actual examples of such writing, you will begin to form an idea of the type of approach that is needed. Then, all you can do is have a go yourself. In short, like the very first things we were taught as infants, one learns by imitation and by trial and error. But why is it necessary to write philosophy anyway? Isn't it enough just to study the works of philosophers? Writing — whether in the form of books, articles, essays, or dialogues — is, quite simply, the way one works at philosophy. Reading, thinking, talking philosophy are all parts of the process. But none of these is a satisfactory substitute for the discipline of expressing your thoughts on paper. (The lone figure of Socrates is perhaps the only recorded exception to this statement.) A student who has not yet produced his or her first piece of written work has simply not reached first base. — That is why at Pathways we encourage our students to get into the practice of writing from the start. By 'writing' one does not mean simply jotting down thoughts as they...

Words: 623 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

MLA Style Analysis

...For my first MLA style essay, I will be arguing why standardized tests should be removed from school systems. I have strong opinions and experience within this topic, so I believe I will be able to argue it well. I want to prove that these tests are not a good way to measure the knowledge and capabilities that a student possesses. I have chosen this topic because I struggle at taking tests. I know how much pressure is put on an individual to test his or her knowledge based on one test score. This has led to getting myself extremely nervous and anxious to take these tests. Most schools use these tests as a way of grading how much a student has learned. What many of these people don’t understand is that this only grades the student on how well they know certain material that they have prepared for. The students know what to expect and that is not how it is in the real world. Also, they have a limited amount of time to take these tests, which makes students feel rushed. This topic is appropriate for an MLA style essay because it deals with education. Most MLA essays are related to literature, philosophy, or religion, but education is sometimes written in this format....

Words: 527 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Memory Paper

...TermPaperWarehouse.com - Free Term Papers, Essays and Research Documents The Research Paper Factory Join Search Browse Saved Papers Home Page » Philosophy and Psychology The Memory Paper In: Philosophy and Psychology The Memory Paper Memory Process Paper Kim Duncan Psychology 550 February 11, 2012 Susan Leonard, PhD Memory Process Memory is the capacity to encode, store and recall information. Memory consists of the procedures that are used to obtain, keep, recall and retrieve information. Encoding, storage, and retrieval are the three major processes involved in memory. In this paper, the author will address short term memory, long term memory, and working memory, as well as encoding and retrieval in the memory process. The author will also describe the selected test and analyze the result of the memory test and evaluate variables associated with encoding information and ease of retrieval. Working memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory Working memory is the capacity to actively store information in the mind required to do difficult tasks such as comprehension, learning, and reasoning. According to Terry (2009) working memory can be defined as memory that is operational and can be recall at any given time. There are two distinct phases of storage, short-term memory and long-term memory. Short-term memory is the capability to recall information over a short period. Information is stored for a limited time in short-term...

Words: 356 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Eassay on Characteristics and Leadership Fundamentals

...Leaders by chance? * Ethical Leadership * Character and Leadership Fundamentals * Leader and the followers vs. Manager and Employees * Team Building – is it so important? * Autocratic Leadership vs. Democratic Leadership * Inspiring Others: Change Yourself, Change the World * In the Service of Others The evaluation (assessment) of the Individual presentation is based on: * Visual Presentation (quality and vision) as well as contact with auditorium (presentation skills) * Useful and Informational Presentation * Clear understanding of the issues, deliverable Presentation * Personal inputs, active work and motivation * Q. and A. 20 November * Ethical Leadership * Test 1 (Student will have 30 minutes for the test, each question’s rank value will be assigned) 27 November * Mid Term Exam – Individual Presentations 4 December...

Words: 427 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Job and Study Habit

...Bulacan Agricultural State College Institute of Graduate Studies Pinaod, San Ildefonso, Bulacan A paper presented to Joseph Bareng, Ph. D. Professor In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the subject PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION MATEO, ALDWIN CRUZ MAED E 31 MARCH 2015 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION “Life must be understood backwards but must be lived forward” -Soren Kierkegaard “Education is not preparation for life… it is life itself…” -John Dewey In the eve of the Philippine Formal Education, Filipinos were already following a system of “training” for the young ones especially in preparing them for life in their communities or tribes. The belief of the “anitos” had given them some sort of “direction” in living their lives. Nature became their “friend and enemy” in honing their young ones’ readiness in facing a new stage of life…Parenthood and Survival. These changed when the Spaniards together with their friars taught them about spirituality and “civilized” culture inclined to the 14th-15kth century beliefs, traditions and practices. Thus, they made the Filipinos memorize and practice these. So, somehow, these Friars seemingly “taught” them to remember through memorization and acculturation. After the First World War, the Americans came bringing with them the system of teaching and education that Philippine society started to embrace. According to historians, this “Formal Education” started in the Philippines with the Americans...

Words: 1694 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Philosophical Life Essay

...1) Choose a topic or question. If you're an undergraduate, you may find that the question will be set, or you may have to pick from a set of questions. If you're doing higher level work, you'll need to pick a topic which may then be formed into a question. * Writing about a subject you're passionate about always proves easiest. What subject speaks out to you? (Beware of not having an open mind or not enough distance when choosing a subject you care about.) If you're having difficulty choosing which questions to answer in an exam or homework situation, for each question, ask yourself the question "how difficult would it be for me to answer this question?", and choose a number between zero and five. Put the number next to the questions on the exam paper or homework sheet and then choose the highest ranked questions. 2) Work out how to answer the actual question. Too many people fail in academic situations because they don't answer the question on the page. The question is set specifically to get you to think in a certain way, not so you can spot a name or theory you know and just write out everything you know about that person or idea. In an exam or homework type situation, you need to answer the question that has actually been set, not the question you wish had been set - the two are often quite different. * Many questions will start with a quote followed simply by the word "Discuss." There are two possible things you need to do here: firstly, it may be asking you to...

Words: 1821 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Reading Philosophies

...Reading Philosophies Tammie Johnson Grand Canyon University: EED 470 December 12, 2012 Reading Philosophies One of the biggest issues that teachers continue to face in public schools is teaching students how to read. With the No Child Left Behind act in place, teachers are being required to use different approaches to get the students more involved in their learning process. In this essay we will discuss two philosophies that are being used in schools today, and those philosophies are Constructivism and Explicit Instruction. Teaching strategies have long generated debate and ideological controversy, especially as to ‘best practice’. Two clear orientations have provided the basis for this controversy: direct (or explicit) instruction, and student-centered constructivist approaches ((Rowe, 2006, p. 1). In order to develop good reading skills, the teacher must first determine which philosophy will benefit his or her students in the classroom. From a constructivist view, the teacher would use a student-centered approach and the students would learn by constructing their own knowledge and meaning through the use of hands-on and problem solving activities. Also from a constructivist standpoint the classroom environment would consist of open discussion about various topics that would build a foundation for reading on what the students already know by sharing their personal experiences through writing personal journals and narratives. Also in a constructivist classroom the student...

Words: 1671 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Philosophy Essay

...Philosophy Essay Tracey Carroll Liberty University EDUC 200 Ms. Angle June 12, 2016 Forming an educational philosophy is an important part of becoming a successful teacher. One’s philosophy determines how they will teach. During my 6th and 7th grade history classes I distinctly remember memorizing exactly what I needed to pass the test. Then like a miracle I got Mr. Brody for my 8th grade History teacher. With his teaching history was brought to life. Based on how Mr. Brody changed my perspective on history and how to teach I am a big supporter of progressivism teaching. This form of learning dynamically involves students, makes facts related to everyday life and pools actual information with individual interest. Beginning with, keenly encompassing my students with my progressive philosophy of instruction. Leading them through inquiries and establishing fun events. If I were a History teacher, I would try to resist from furnishing them facts only in extensive speeches. I would however, start with a detailed aid and then ask questions in such a way that the students would eventually relate the example to the intellectual historic theme on their own. “Guided discovery may take more or less time than expository instruction, depending on the task, but tends to result in better long term retention and transfer than expository instruction”(Mayer, 2002, p. 68). I would also have exciting activities prearranged for the history lesson such as reenactments of the...

Words: 673 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

A Review of H. S. Staniland's "What Is Philosophy?"

...Philosophy in time has been regarded as the most abstract and abstruse of all disciplines. Worst of it is the question “what is philosophy?” which is in itself a controversial question both to philosophers and the lay man. “But though many people have come to think of philosophy as a remote discipline that is far from normal interest and beyond comprehension, nearly all of us have some philosophical view of life. Consciously or unconsciously, whether we accept it or not most of us even as we are vague about what philosophy is, the term usually appear in our conversation.” In this essay review, what is philosophy, by H.S. Staniland, we shall come to discover that philosophy is more practical to life. And that its supposed abstract nature -which may be true due to the engagement of the early Ionian philosophers in cosmological speculation, provides only a distorted image of what professional philosophy really is. In this review, we shall first examine the activities of some people who have since been regarded as philosophers. Next we shall give a definition of philosophy as seen by Staniland. Furthermore we shall highlight, evaluate and elaborate on various arguments in Staniland’s essay. Finally we shall conclude. “At different ages and accross distant places and culture, various people who have been regarded as philosophers, and who have engaged very seriously in philosophizing have had varying aims. Some like Saint Augustine of Hippo have been religious leaders, who...

Words: 2168 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Eduction Philosophy and Rationale

...Education Philosophy and Rationale Philosophies of education are an ongoing process and evolved over time. When developing my philosophy of education, I found that exploring my personal beliefs concerning education is of utmost important. Therefore, I have taken philosophies from other teachers from my past, my personal experiences and my personal beliefs to make up a philosophy of education that I use in teaching today. I found that the philosophy of my fundamental beliefs of educational teaching is progressivism and social reconstructionism. My philosophies of education are based totally on the students, which in other terms its student-centered philosophy. I believe each student should be treated as individuals and that the focus is for the students’ individual needs. Student-Centered philosophy will allow the students to be involved in their own learning process. As an educator in this process, I can act as a facilitator and help guide the students. Basing my philosophy of education on progressivism, I agree that students should test ideas by active experimentation or real-world applications. Using learning as a way to critical think and solve problems to make meaning through his or her experience in the physical and cultural context. Pragmatism is considered to be the real-world application of the philosophy of progressivism. John Dewey applied pragmatist philosophy in his progressive approaches. Like Morrison (2008), Dewey states individuals and their environments (however...

Words: 1305 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

John Locke

...John Locke's contributions in Philosophy and political views are followed and practiced even to this day. Locke’s ideas influenced religion, economics, political change, theories of knowledge and the human understanding that led to governmental and social improvements. John Locke believed in political reform. John Locke is one of the most influential authors and political philosophers in history. His ideas and views have influenced such momentous commodity such as the American constitution. Many of Locke’s ideas were used in the creation of the United States Constitution. John Locke was a British philosopher and medical researcher. Locke was born to Agnes Keene and John Locke on August 29, 1632, in Somerset, England. His father was a Puritan lawyer, who served as a Captain during the English civil war. Locke’s schooling began at Westminster School in 1647. He earned the title of King’s Scholar, which prepared him for the next phase of his education at the Christ Church in Oxford in 1652. He studied literature, physical science, medicine, politics, and natural philosophy. In 1656 he continued for his Master of Arts degree. In 1665 at Oxford, Locke encountered Lord Ashley, a notable statesman looking for medical treatment. After a friendship formed, Ashley invited Locke to join him in London as his personal physician. Locke agreed and left for London in 1667, where he lived for the next eight years. This was the beginning of Locke’s deep political interests, which was...

Words: 2488 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Scrip Assessment

...times in our profession that will allow students to slide by and not hold them responsible for the material because of an aptitude reason, behavioral reason or other reason. However, we are not doing them any favors and will eventually cause issues down the line for both the student and his eventual teacher. We must do our best to reach every student and prepare them for the next step in their education. Decision Making Essay: How and why I came up with the title and theme of my educational philosophy paper is because the subject is something that I have thought about and have had discussions about with my peers. My writing plan is to gather my thoughts and put them in paragraph form. I usually add points to back up my thoughts afterwards if I am confident there is such evidence. I did not get to use as much research as I would have liked due to my schedule, which has been burdensome and difficult. I determined my beliefs and theories based on my teaching experience over the last year. I am confident in my beliefs and passionate about my philosophy of integrating my Christian worldview into my daily lesson plans regardless of whether I am in a Christian or secular school....

Words: 948 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Belief Systems

...Sample Essay 1 Belief systems and philosophies have greatly affected the people and societies where they are practiced. They give guidelines on how to live their lives and affect every aspect of their cultures. Two such belief systems and philosophies are Hinduism and Confucianism. Hinduism is a religion with no founder. The people who practice this religion believe in moksha and reincarnation. Moksha is the freedom from earthly desires and a complete understanding of the world. Reincarnation is the belief that people are reborn over and over again until achieving moksha. Whether or not they are born into a good life depends on their previous life’s karma (good or bad deeds). In Hinduism, they also have a caste system. It divides people into four social classes and hardly gives any social mobility at all. People are decided which class they belong to at birth. For example, if a child is born into a family of slaves, that child will be a slave for the rest of his life. Confucianism is a philosophy started by Confucius in China. In Confucianism, the people valued education and believed in filial piety, the respect for elders. They also believed in the spirits of ancestors and created the famous quote, “do not do unto others, what you would not want them to do unto you.” Hinduism and Confucianism greatly affected the people and societies they were practiced in. In Hinduism, because of the belief in reincarnation and karma, people avoided doing bad deeds. Those who achieved...

Words: 2489 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

The Challenge of Studying Aboard

...professors' words, taking lecture notes, and giving oral presentations (Ziyan, Hong), asking professors questions and interacting in seminar discussions and so on. I, personally, think the reading and oral speech are very hard to international students especially to Chinese students in Saint Louis University because all my Chinese friends are struggling in reading English texts and communicating clearly in class. In colleges, students have many resources to read before and after classes. The challenges in reading reflect in two aspects. First, the number of reading assignments are more than that you excepted. My friends me all struggle to finish our reading every day. Especially those classes belong to Arts and Science, such as History, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology. On average, students have fifteen classes one week, and we need to read all the materials before the classes to follow our professors. If the professors always teach one chapter that has fifty pages in each class, we have to read and understand 750 pages...

Words: 1332 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Foucault's Panopticon Essay

...The essay that we read is the part of the book by Michel Foucault “Discipline & Punish” (1975), Panopticism. So, actually who is Michel Foucault and what is he known for? “He was a French philosopher and historian, associated with the structuralist and post-structuralist movements. Foucault was born in October 15, 1926, and to a big regret has died in 25th of June 1984. The book “Discipline & Punish” was published in France in 1975, and translated to English in 1977 by Alan Sheridan. “(Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The part of the essay that we read was “Panopticism” in III section DISCIPLINE 3. To begin with, let me summarize this part of the essay. What is “Panopticon” and how it works? The structure of “Panopticon” should be used...

Words: 973 - Pages: 4