|
|
|
Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
|
 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Plato
| The origins of the fallacious insistance that the universe is perfect and that all planetary bodies make perfectly circular motions in their orbits is often traced to the works of Aristotle. But did Plato share these views? Yes or no? | Plato the Scientist?
|
Yes. It could well be that Plato, having been influenced by the Pythagorians, in turn passed along this fallacious belief system to Aristotle, thus setting in motion a couple thousand misguided years in the science of astronomy.
| Plato established an important method which has been passed down through the ages. That is that, when one has a problem that has already been solved, one can work backwards from it until a statement can be reached of which the veracity has already been determined. In other words, a method of attaining proofs. In which of his works was this method established? | Plato the Scientist?
|
| Above the entrance to his Academy was the following quote, 'Let none who has not learned ___________ enter here'. What goes in the blank? | Plato the Scientist?
|
geometry. As one can see, Plato was very concerned about the discipline of mathematics, to the point where students could be rejected for lack of knowledge in the area.
| The 'Platonic bodies' which Plato describes in his 'most scientific work' (mentioned in the previous question) can best be characterized as what? | Plato the Scientist?
|
Regular Solids. The Platonic bodies are the five regular solids described by the Pythagoreans, all of which have equal sides and equal angles.
| Which work of Plato's was most influenced by the mystical-scientific ideas of the Pythagoreans? | Plato the Scientist?
|
Timaeus. For this reason, some consider it his least 'Platonic'.
| Another individual from the Platonic school, he initiated the study of conic sections -- the hyperbola, the parabola and the ellipse. Who was he? | The Disciples of Plato
|
Menaechmus. Menaechmus, like Callipus, was a pupil of Eudoxus. He was the true innovator, developing his theory about the several conic sections, all of which could be cut from a cone. The work of Menaechmus was carried on and expanded by Apollonius of Perga several centuries later. Okay...I hope this was a mind-expanding quiz, despite its brevity. Thank you for playing along!
| Which Platonic disciple suggested that the Earth turns on its axis every 24 hours and that the solar system might be heliocentric? | The Disciples of Plato
|
Heracleides. The Heracleidean position, that the solar system might be heliocentric, was eventually adopted by Aristarchus. Heracleides at least knew for certain that both Mercury and Venus revolved around the sun. Unfortunately, the views of the Platonic/Aristotilean positions won out over Aristarchan theory.
| A pupil of Plato's great student, who developed the system of concentric spheres borrowed by Ptolemy, was this man who advanced the system of epicycles, adding an additional seven, laying the final groundwork for the system adopted by Aristotle and Ptolemy. Who was he? | The Disciples of Plato
|
Callipus. Callipus was a good friend to Aristotle, and modified the theories of Eudoxus to the point where they were adopted by Aristotle. The very complex system of spheres and epicycles was therefore developed for Aristotle to pass on down the line to Ptolemy.
| Aside from developing the system of concentric spheres upon which the epicyclic Ptolemaic arrangement of the solar system was based, what other remarkable achievement was made by this great follower of Plato? | The Disciples of Plato
|
He estimated the solar year to be 365 days and six hours long. Unfortunately, Eudoxus, as great a mathematician as he was, could not make the breakthrough that would have helped him to surmise that the solar system was heliocentric. Hence, the Ptolemaic geocentric tradition passed down via Plato.
| Which student of Plato developed the system of concentric spheres that became the epicycles of the Ptolemaic astronomical system? | The Disciples of Plato
|
Eudoxus. Eudoxus was born on the Cnidus Peninsula along the Ionian coast of Asia Minor. Working off of Plato's notion that the solar system was geocentric, he developed the system mentioned above. He was a great influence on both Ptolemy and Euclid.
| According to Plato's "Phaedo," what was Socrates' demeanor in his cell, as he awaited his pending execution? | Plato: A Real Wise Guy
|
Pleasant, calm and resigned to his fate. Socrates passed time in his cell by writing poetry based on Aesop's fables.
| Which of Plato's works describes the trial of Socrates, and Socrates' defense against charges that he was corrupting the youth of Athens? | Plato: A Real Wise Guy
|
The Apology. Socrates' self-defense was eloquent but not persuasive to his peers, who voted to have him executed.
| In "The Symposium", what Greek playwright suggests that all human beings are seeking their missing other halves? | Plato: A Real Wise Guy
|
Aristophanes. The comic playwright Aristophanes concocts a myth in which early human beings were hermaphrodites who were split apart by the gods. So when people seek out husbands or wives, they're really looking for their missing halves, to become complete.
Love. A drunken rant by Alcibiades is one of the highlights of "The Symposium".
Piety, and our duties toward the gods. This dialogue leads to no clear conclusion. Socrates is interested not so much in giving answers as in shaking up our notions of the gods.
| Plato and his most esteemed student, Aristotle, both appear in the painting "The School of Athens" by which Renaissance master? | Plato: A Real Wise Guy
|
Raphael. Many leading artists and intellectuals appear in the painting. Those who dealt with ideals and abstract subjects surround Plato, while those more concerned with practical matters surround Aristotle. Interestingly, Raphael placed himself in the painting alongside Aristotle.
the nature of human knowledge. Thaetetus, who was killed in the Peloponnesian War, had engaged in a memorable dialogue with Socrates as a youth.
an elite group of "philosopher-kings". Socrates thought a democratic society was bound to collapse into anarchy and decadence, and that only leadership by a virtuous elite could prevent this.
|
Play Now! 