The Republic - Book 6

Discussion questions for Book 6:

1. Who should study philosophy?

a) Should it be a required subject in college? High school?
b) Should only graduate students in college be allowed to study philosophy?
c) Would society really be better off if no one studied philosophy?


2. Is philosophy really just some kind of verbal game?

Read the passage on page 152.


3. Does Socrates believe that most people (the majority) are bad? If so, why? (p. 155)

a) If people are already good, then why bother with the study of philosophy?
b) If people are bad, aren’t they the very ones who would profit from the study of philosophy?