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The Pre-Socratic Philosophers and Their Ideas

Description: The Pre-Socratic Philosophers and Their Ideas
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy ancient philosophy pre-socratic philosophers
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Which of the following is NOT a Pre-Socratic philosopher?

  1. Thales of Miletus

  2. Anaximander

  3. Pythagoras

  4. Socrates


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Socrates is not a Pre-Socratic philosopher because he lived and taught in the 5th century BCE, while the Pre-Socratic philosophers lived and taught in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE.

What was the central idea of Thales of Miletus's philosophy?

  1. Water is the fundamental element of all matter

  2. The universe is made up of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water

  3. All things are made up of atoms

  4. The world is governed by a rational order


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Thales of Miletus believed that water was the fundamental element of all matter because he observed that water can exist in all three states of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) and that it is essential for life.

According to Anaximander, what is the fundamental element of all matter?

  1. Water

  2. Air

  3. Fire

  4. The Boundless


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Anaximander believed that the fundamental element of all matter was the Boundless, which he described as an infinite, indeterminate substance from which all things arise and to which all things return.

What was the central idea of Pythagoras's philosophy?

  1. Numbers are the fundamental elements of all matter

  2. The universe is made up of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water

  3. All things are made up of atoms

  4. The world is governed by a rational order


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Pythagoras believed that numbers were the fundamental elements of all matter because he observed that mathematical relationships could be used to describe the natural world.

According to Heraclitus, what is the fundamental principle of the universe?

  1. Change

  2. Stability

  3. Order

  4. Chaos


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Heraclitus believed that the fundamental principle of the universe was change, which he described as the constant flux of all things.

What was the central idea of Parmenides's philosophy?

  1. Being is the only reality

  2. Non-being is the only reality

  3. Both being and non-being are real

  4. Neither being nor non-being is real


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Parmenides believed that being is the only reality because he argued that non-being cannot be thought or spoken about.

According to Empedocles, what are the four fundamental elements of all matter?

  1. Earth, air, fire, and water

  2. Fire, air, water, and aether

  3. Earth, air, fire, and aether

  4. Earth, fire, water, and aether


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Empedocles believed that the four fundamental elements of all matter were earth, air, fire, and water because he observed that these elements could be used to explain the diversity of the natural world.

What was the central idea of Anaxagoras's philosophy?

  1. All things are made up of atoms

  2. All things are made up of seeds

  3. All things are made up of elements

  4. All things are made up of monads


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Anaxagoras believed that all things were made up of seeds, which he described as tiny, invisible particles that contained all the properties of the things they made up.

According to Leucippus and Democritus, what are the fundamental elements of all matter?

  1. Atoms and the void

  2. Fire, air, water, and earth

  3. Earth, air, fire, and aether

  4. Earth, fire, water, and aether


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Leucippus and Democritus believed that the fundamental elements of all matter were atoms and the void, which they described as tiny, indivisible particles and the space between them.

What was the central idea of Protagoras's philosophy?

  1. Man is the measure of all things

  2. The world is governed by a rational order

  3. All things are in a state of flux

  4. Being is the only reality


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Protagoras believed that man is the measure of all things because he argued that there is no objective truth and that all knowledge is relative to the individual.

According to Gorgias, what are the three main arguments against the existence of anything?

  1. Nothing exists

  2. If anything exists, it cannot be known

  3. If anything can be known, it cannot be communicated

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Gorgias argued that nothing exists, that if anything exists, it cannot be known, and that if anything can be known, it cannot be communicated.

What was the central idea of Hippias's philosophy?

  1. The law is the measure of all things

  2. The world is governed by a rational order

  3. All things are in a state of flux

  4. Being is the only reality


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Hippias believed that the law is the measure of all things because he argued that it is the only thing that can ensure justice and order in society.

According to Critias, what is the origin of the universe?

  1. It was created by a god or gods

  2. It arose from chaos

  3. It is the result of a natural process

  4. It is unknowable


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Critias believed that the universe arose from chaos because he argued that it is the only way to explain the diversity and order of the natural world.

What was the central idea of Prodicus's philosophy?

  1. Virtue is knowledge

  2. The world is governed by a rational order

  3. All things are in a state of flux

  4. Being is the only reality


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Prodicus believed that virtue is knowledge because he argued that people only do wrong because they do not know what is right.

According to Thrasymachus, what is justice?

  1. The will of the stronger

  2. The interest of the majority

  3. The rule of law

  4. The common good


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Thrasymachus believed that justice is the will of the stronger because he argued that the strong always get what they want, while the weak always suffer.

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