(470-399 BCE) An Athenian philosopher who thought that human beings could lead honest lives and that honor was far more important than wealth, fame, or other superficial attributes.

• A. Plato
• B. Aristotle
• C. Protagoras
• D. Socrates

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is that living honestly and valuing moral character over wealth or fame leads to the good life. Socrates argued that virtue is the highest good and that the right life is one of moral integrity, guided by reason and ongoing self-examination. He taught that genuine honor comes from doing what is right and knowing oneself, not from accumulating wealth or seeking public prestige. This emphasis on virtue as the ultimate aim and on examining one’s beliefs and actions is what identifies the described Athenian philosopher. He lived in Athens during the late 5th century BCE and is renowned for challenging Athenians to reflect on how they live. In contrast, Plato centers on ideal forms and just society, Aristotle on virtue as a mean that yields eudaimonia, and Protagoras on rhetoric and relativism, rather than a relentless focus on virtue over external rewards. So the description fits Socrates best.