Question 1

Plato often made the characters of his dialogues examples of the theories they were expressing. This was designed to demonstrate his belief that:
A) there is no real difference between appearance and reality.
B) life itself is a form of art.
C) the order of the universe is reflected in the order of the soul.
D) Both A and B
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato believed in the theory of Forms, which holds that the physical world is a mere reflection of a transcendent realm of perfect Forms or Ideas. He also believed that the order and harmony of the universe is reflected in the order and harmony of the soul. By using characters in his dialogues as examples of his theories, he showed how these theories could be applied in practical situations, demonstrating the interconnection between the physical world, the world of Ideas, and the human soul.

Question 2

According to Plato, the presence of two contradictory impulses in a person such as to grieve and to remain unmoved) indicates that:
A) he or she is internally disordered.
B) two distinct elements of his or her nature are involved.
C) reason no longer rules his soul.
D) he or she is of poor character.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

According to Plato, each person has multiple elements within their nature, including reason, passion, and desire. When two contradictory impulses arise in a person, it indicates that two distinct elements of their nature are involved. It does not necessarily mean that the person is internally disordered or of poor character, nor does it necessarily mean that reason no longer rules their soul.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of the distinction between appearance and reality?
A) Arnold looks tall in the movies, but he's really only five feet six inches.
B) My aunt lies about her age.
C) The English horn is neither English nor a horn.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Option A clearly presents the difference between how Arnold appears on screen versus his actual height. The other options do not specifically address the distinction between appearance and reality.

Question 4

How does Plato believe one may know what makes one truly happy?
A) By making sure all of one's opinions are true
B) By carefully observing the actions of those who are truly happy
C) By attaining a systematic understanding of the good for humanity
D) By studying a correct definition of "happiness"
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato believed that one may know what makes one truly happy by attaining a systematic understanding of the good for humanity, which he believed was the ultimate reality and source of all knowledge. This involves the use of reason and the study of philosophy to come to a correct understanding of the Good, as well as the cultivation of virtues such as wisdom, courage, and justice.

Question 5

Gorgias' upright moral character and speeches advocating a false ethical view illustrate the:
A) difference between knowledge and belief.
B) way in which the organization of the individual soul mirrors the organization of the universe.
C) contrast between a persuasive argument and an invalid one.
D) distinction between appearance and reality.
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Gorgias' speeches advocate a false ethical view, highlighting the distinction between appearance and reality. This is because Gorgias believed that the goal of rhetoric was to manipulate appearances, rather than uncover the truth. His speeches may be persuasive, but they are based on false premises and therefore invalid. This illustrates the importance of distinguishing between what appears to be true and what is actually true, and the need to seek knowledge rather than simply believing what is presented as true. The organization of the individual soul and the difference between knowledge and belief are not directly related to Gorgias' character or speeches.

Question 6

Plato held that the benefits) of art was/were that it:
A) refines our aesthetic sense.
B) stirs up our emotions.
C) reinforces our psychological harmony.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato was critical of art, believing it could mislead and stir emotions in a way that disrupts rational thought and psychological harmony, rather than providing benefits.

Question 7

A painting of a chair aims at reproducing:
A) the chair as it really is.
B) the Form of the Chair.
C) a small portion of the real chair.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of A painting of a chair aims at...

Question 8

According to Plato, real pizza is:
A) the Form of Pizza, of which all particular pizzas that might be baked are copies.
B) all the particular pizzas that are baked in the world.
C) a photograph of a pizza.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

According to Plato's theory of Forms, there is an ideal form or concept of everything in existence, including pizza. Real pizza, in Plato's view, would be the Form of Pizza, of which all particular pizzas that might be baked are imperfect copies.

Question 9

A straight stick looks bent when put halfway under water. Plato uses this example to illustrate the:
A) principle of light refraction.
B) distinction between appearance and reality.
C) artistic structure of his dialogues.
D) superiority of reason to observation.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato is using the example of the bent stick to argue for the distinction between appearance (what we see) and reality (what is actually true). This is a central theme in his philosophy and a key concept in his famous allegory of the cave.

Question 10

The faculty Plato thinks gives us the ability to tell appearance from reality is:
A) imagination.
B) intuition.
C) reason.
D) investigation.
E) observation.

Accepted Answer

Plato believed that reason, or the ability to engage in rational thought and logical analysis, is what allows us to distinguish between appearances and reality. He argued that we cannot rely on our senses alone, as they can be deceived or manipulated, but rather we must use our reason to discern what is truly real. This reasoning ability, he believed, is a faculty that sets humans apart from other animals and allows us to grasp abstract concepts and universal truths.

Question 11

According to Plato, a craftsman who builds a chair creates:
A) a real chair which cannot be copied by a painter.
B) a copy of a real chair.
C) a real chair that might be copied by the painter.
D) a chair which is no closer to reality than a painting of a chair.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

According to Plato's theory of Forms, the physical objects we see in the world are merely imperfect imitations or copies of their ideal Forms or essences. Therefore, the craftsman who builds a chair only creates a copy of the real chair that exists in the realm of Forms. This chair can be copied by a painter, but the painter's version would also be a copy of a copy, further removed from the ideal Form. Therefore, the correct answer is B - a copy of a real chair.

Question 12

Plato says that poets should be excluded from an ideal society because:
A) they undermine the reason.
B) poems appeal to an inferior portion of the soul.
C) the poets creations are only pale reflections of truth.
D) a poem affects the soul as a vicious government affects a state.
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato believes that poets should be excluded from his ideal society because they undermine the reason, poems appeal to an inferior portion of the soul, the poet's creations are only pale reflections of truth, and a poem affects the soul as a vicious government affects a state. Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 13

Plato thought that art:
A) leads us away from knowledge.
B) was the path to a deeper understanding of reality.
C) revealed truth in ways that mere reason could not.
D) was more reality than appearance.
E) revealed truth through its beauty.

Accepted Answer

Plato believed that art leads us away from knowledge because it is an imitation of reality and can deceive us by appealing to emotions rather than reason.

Question 14

Plato thinks that Gorgias is dangerous because:
A) his apparently decent speeches conceal the reality of his wicked character.
B) his students follow his false moral principles rather than emulating his morally upright behavior.
C) he is clearly evil, but still attracts students.
D) he speaks the truth, but does not understand what makes his claims true.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plato thinks that Gorgias is dangerous because:
A)...

Question 15

In the Republic, Plato argues that:
A) a society's character is best expressed through its art.
B) art should be banned in an ideal society.
C) artists should be supported by public funding in an ideal society.
D) in a good society, the artists are second in importance only to the rulers.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato argues in the Republic that art should be banned in an ideal society, as he believes it has the power to corrupt and mislead citizens' souls. He suggests that only art that promotes virtues and the ideal society's values should be allowed. The ruling class should censor any art that fails to meet such criteria. Plato believes that society's character is best expressed through its citizens' actions and lifestyles, not art.

Question 16

In Plato's dialogue entitled Gorgias, the confusion of Callicles' moral relativism is artistically indicated by:
A) his unkempt appearance.
B) Callicles' opposition to Plato's arguments.
C) Callicles' ranting, shouting, abusiveness, and loss of dignity.
D) Plato's refusal to even engage with Callicles.
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The confusion of Callicles' moral relativism is artistically indicated by his ranting, shouting, abusiveness, and loss of dignity. This behavior showcases his inability to defend his position logically, and instead he resorts to emotional outbursts.

Question 17

According to Plato, a person who has true opinions, but does not know what makes them true:
A) does not appear to be wise.
B) is wise, but cannot lead others to wisdom.
C) appears to be wise, but in fact is not.
D) has achieved true wisdom by avoiding the conceit of knowledge.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

According to Plato, having true opinions without knowledge of what makes them true is mere doxa or belief, not genuine knowledge. Despite appearing to be wise, such a person does not have true wisdom and therefore cannot be considered truly wise.

Question 18

The contributing elements to the artistic brilliance of Plato's dialogues include:
A) the characters are fully-realized human beings.
B) each dialogue is brief enough to be read in its entirety without interruption.
C) the behavior of the characters actually exemplifies the theories Plato is expounding.
D) Both A and C
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Choice A is correct as the characters in Plato's dialogues are not just two-dimensional props but are fully-realized human beings with distinct personalities and backgrounds. Choice B is incorrect as the length of each dialogue varies, with some being quite lengthy and requiring breaks in reading. Choice C is correct as Plato's characters exemplify the theories he is expounding through their attitudes, behaviors, and arguments. Therefore, the best choice is D, which includes both A and C.

Question 19

According to Plato:
A) a painting of a chair and an actual chair are both copies of the Form of chair.
B) an actual chair resembles the Form of Chair, and the painting of the chair resembles the actual chair.
C) the actual chair resembles the Form of Chair, but the painting of the chair doesn't resemble the actual chair.
D) there is no difference between an actual chair and the Form of Chair.
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

According to Plato, physical objects in the world are imperfect copies or imitations of their corresponding Forms or Ideas in the realm of the Forms. Therefore, an actual chair resembles the Form of Chair, and a painting of a chair resembles the actual chair. However, the painting is not an exact copy of the chair, but rather a copy of a copy.

Question 20

Plato and Aristotle agree that:
A) poetry should be banned from an ideal society.
B) art merely provides us with imperfect copies of particular instances of universal forms.
C) we should seek knowledge of the universal forms of justice, beauty, and goodness.
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Plato and Aristotle both emphasize the importance of understanding universal forms or concepts such as justice, beauty, and goodness, although they approach these ideas differently. Plato discusses the theory of forms, where these universals exist in a realm of their own, while Aristotle focuses on how these universals are instantiated in the world. Despite their differing methodologies, both agree on the significance of seeking knowledge of these universal forms.

Quiz 7: Philosophy of Art

Plato often made the characters of his dialogues examples of the theories they were expressing. This was designed to demonstrate his belief that:

According to Plato, the presence of two contradictory impulses in a person such as to grieve and to remain unmoved) indicates that:

Which of the following is an example of the distinction between appearance and reality?

How does Plato believe one may know what makes one truly happy?

Gorgias' upright moral character and speeches advocating a false ethical view illustrate the:

Plato held that the benefits) of art was/were that it:

A painting of a chair aims at reproducing:

According to Plato, real pizza is:

A straight stick looks bent when put halfway under water. Plato uses this example to illustrate the:

The faculty Plato thinks gives us the ability to tell appearance from reality is:

According to Plato, a craftsman who builds a chair creates:

Plato says that poets should be excluded from an ideal society because:

Plato thought that art:

Plato thinks that Gorgias is dangerous because:

In the Republic, Plato argues that:

In Plato's dialogue entitled Gorgias, the confusion of Callicles' moral relativism is artistically indicated by:

According to Plato, a person who has true opinions, but does not know what makes them true:

The contributing elements to the artistic brilliance of Plato's dialogues include:

According to Plato:

Plato and Aristotle agree that: