Plato's Cave Discussion
Help Explain Plato's Metaphor using the picture at the top of the article.
To the prisoners, what is truth? [page 2, top]
What difficulties will the freed prisoner face? [page 2, middle]
Sharp pains in the neck, clearer vision yet believes illusion truth, cannot name objects, "dazzled"/blinded by sun, needs to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world… he will follow the hierarchy of intellectuals…
What does the freed prisoner see last?
Why is that important?
[sees self, self-reflection is critical]
Why would the prisoners bother putting to death any prisoner who escaped? [mid 3]
What does Socrates mean when he says on top of 4 "if I am right, certain professors of education must be wrong when they say that they can put a knowledge into the soul which was not there before, like sight into blind eyes."?
"the power of and capacity of learning exists in the soul already"
"the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole sould be turned from the world of becoming into that of being, and learn by degrees to endure the sight… of the good."
What does Socrates mean when he sees an "art which will effect conversion in the easiest and quickest manner; not implanting the faculty of sight, for that exists already…"
"wisdom more than anything else contains a divine element which always remains, and by this conversion is rendered useful and profitable"
What happens if you like "sensual pleasures" such as "eating and drinking?" [middle 4]
What is the responsibility of those who are leaders of the State[government]?
Avoid sensual pleasures
Encourage the best minds to "attain that knowledge which we have already shown to be the greatest of all" [the good]
Then, they must be "made to descend again among the prisoners in the den…
Do you agree with Socrates' request of legislators?
Answer the last question… "What sort of knowledge is there which would draw the soul from becoming to being?"
What sort of knowledge would help people ascend from the darkness?