From “The Defense of Socrates”, by Plato: “The effect of this questioning, fellow Athenians, was to earn me much hostility of a very vexing and trying sort, which has given rise to numerous slanders, including this reputation I have for being ‘wise’ — because those present on each occasion imagine me to be wise regarding the matters on which I examine others. But in fact, gentlemen, it would appear that it is only the god who is truly wise; and that he is saying to us, through this oracle, that human wisdom is worth little or nothing. It seems that when he says `Socrates’, he makes use of my name, merely taking me as an example — as if to say: ‘The wisest amongst you, human beings, is anyone like Socrates who has recognized that with respect to wisdom he is truly worthless.”
1) Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage above: a) Because I have been asking “experts” about what they claim to know, I now have a reputation as someone who claims to know everything. b) Even if you command me to stop doing what I’m doing, I will disobey you and continue to do what I think is right. c) I am the wisest of all Athenians, because I am aware that I don’t know anything. d) I am not the one who decided that I am the wisest of all Athenians; it was the god, through the oracle.
2) This passage is often quoted as the origin of “philosophical humility” or “philosophical skepticism.” The following is closest to a defmition of this sentiment: a) earn me much hostility of a very vexing and trying sort. b) the matters on which I examine others. c) human wisdom is worth little or nothing. d) those present on each occasion imagine me to be wise.
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