CSTU 101 - Exam 1 Questions and
Answers
Culture - Answer-What we make of the world
Western culture - Answer-A set of shared culture generally in Europe and related areas
Humanities - Answer-What makes us human
Epic - Answer-A long narrative recounting heroism, centered on the hero with a sense of national
identity
Golden Age of Athens (Greece) - Answer-• Persian Wars - Destruction of Athens by the Persians,
followed eventually by Greek victory
• Pericles - Leader during the Golden Age
, • Parthenon - Physical embodiment of the classical Greek spirit
Plato's Theory of Forms - Answer-Changing reality is founded on higher forms, which through reasoning,
we could get a glimpse of
Plato's Allegory of the Cave - Answer-Allegory of Plato's Theory of Forms. Essentially, men are trapped
in a cave all their life seeing only shadows. One breaks free and sees life out of the cave, going back to
show the others, but all they can see is the cave.
Greek humanism - Answer-Human reason is the surest truth (a confidence in human power and
ingenuity)
Why has Homer been called the earliest shaper of the Greek outlook and character? - Answer-Homer
uses his epics to: Recognize universal order & Emphasize individual excellence.
The Greek contribution to Western culture - Answer-• Art/Architecture
• Thought (philosophy)
• Freedom (political & moral)
• Humanism
Describe the ideal government as suggested by Plato and by Aristotle. Identify at least three areas of
contrast and/or comparison. - Answer-Plato: the perfect polis, a utopia governed by enlightened
authoritarianism
• Structure in some form of ruling, absolute enlightened ruler
• Ruler with absolute power, since the ruler is enlightened
• Separated classes: elites, military, workers
Aristotle: constitutional democracy, power equally to the virtuous and the wealthy
Answers
Culture - Answer-What we make of the world
Western culture - Answer-A set of shared culture generally in Europe and related areas
Humanities - Answer-What makes us human
Epic - Answer-A long narrative recounting heroism, centered on the hero with a sense of national
identity
Golden Age of Athens (Greece) - Answer-• Persian Wars - Destruction of Athens by the Persians,
followed eventually by Greek victory
• Pericles - Leader during the Golden Age
, • Parthenon - Physical embodiment of the classical Greek spirit
Plato's Theory of Forms - Answer-Changing reality is founded on higher forms, which through reasoning,
we could get a glimpse of
Plato's Allegory of the Cave - Answer-Allegory of Plato's Theory of Forms. Essentially, men are trapped
in a cave all their life seeing only shadows. One breaks free and sees life out of the cave, going back to
show the others, but all they can see is the cave.
Greek humanism - Answer-Human reason is the surest truth (a confidence in human power and
ingenuity)
Why has Homer been called the earliest shaper of the Greek outlook and character? - Answer-Homer
uses his epics to: Recognize universal order & Emphasize individual excellence.
The Greek contribution to Western culture - Answer-• Art/Architecture
• Thought (philosophy)
• Freedom (political & moral)
• Humanism
Describe the ideal government as suggested by Plato and by Aristotle. Identify at least three areas of
contrast and/or comparison. - Answer-Plato: the perfect polis, a utopia governed by enlightened
authoritarianism
• Structure in some form of ruling, absolute enlightened ruler
• Ruler with absolute power, since the ruler is enlightened
• Separated classes: elites, military, workers
Aristotle: constitutional democracy, power equally to the virtuous and the wealthy
