OCR AS Level Philosophy of Religion - G571
Topic = Plato
In my AS year, I thought I would upload my revision notes I made and see what happened.
Yes, I bombed. So I stopped
So now that I am in my A2 year, things are a lot more challenging so I thought I should give it another go.
What do you think?
It would be helpful if you left a comment and thank you !
Plato (c. 427-347 BCE) was a famous Greek philosopher and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He was born in Athens to an aristocratic family and was greatly influenced by his teacher Socrates. Plato authored many dialogues, most featuring Socrates, that explored topics like ethics, politics and metaphysics. Some of his most influential theories included the Theory of Forms which argued that the material world is just a shadow of the ideal world of forms, and that true knowledge comes from rational thought rather than the senses. Plato had a profound impact on Western philosophy and science through his dialogues and the founding of the Academy.
The document summarizes key aspects of the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It discusses Plato's Academy, one of the first universities, and his dialogue Symposium which analyzes the concept of love. It also describes Plato's theory of forms and allegory of the cave, which proposes that knowledge is gained by remembering ideals we were exposed to before birth.
Plato and his work Republic are discussed. The document provides background on Classical Greece, including the Pre-Socratic philosophers like the Milesians (Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes), Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Zeno. It also discusses the differences between Greek city-states like Sparta and Athens, and events like the Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War that divided Greece. Plato's Republic is described as humanity's first attempt at systematically discussing the ideal way to live.
This document provides an overview of some key ancient Greek philosophers, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It discusses their lives, ideas, and influences. Socrates believed in questioning assumptions to arrive at truth and was sentenced to death for corrupting youth. Plato was his student and founded the Academy, promoting his theory of Forms. Aristotle was a student of Plato who emphasized observation and founded the Lyceum, making major contributions across many fields. Both Plato and Aristotle had significant impacts on Western thought.
Plato is one of the most influential philosophers in history known for establishing philosophy as a rigorous examination of ethical, political, metaphysical and epistemological issues. He wrote primarily in dialogue form, most featuring Socrates, to explore profound questions in an open-ended way that invites further thought. While Plato is associated with key doctrines like the theory of forms, his works often raise puzzles about these ideas and leave interpretations unfinished, showing philosophy as a living subject. Plato's indirect style through dialogue makes attributing views to him difficult, but he transformed intellectual thought in a lasting way.
For AS Level Philosophy, however, again like my other uploads, it is useful for A2 Philosophy because understanding of Aristotle's concepts is crucial to be able to hold an argument in A2 essays so this is just a brief revision summary.
If you found this useful, please make sure to give it a like!
Thank you !!!
Plato (c. 427-347 BCE) was a famous Greek philosopher and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He was born in Athens to an aristocratic family and was greatly influenced by his teacher Socrates. Plato authored many dialogues, most featuring Socrates, that explored topics like ethics, politics and metaphysics. Some of his most influential theories included the Theory of Forms which argued that the material world is just a shadow of the ideal world of forms, and that true knowledge comes from rational thought rather than the senses. Plato had a profound impact on Western philosophy and science through his dialogues and the founding of the Academy.
The document summarizes key aspects of the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It discusses Plato's Academy, one of the first universities, and his dialogue Symposium which analyzes the concept of love. It also describes Plato's theory of forms and allegory of the cave, which proposes that knowledge is gained by remembering ideals we were exposed to before birth.
Plato and his work Republic are discussed. The document provides background on Classical Greece, including the Pre-Socratic philosophers like the Milesians (Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes), Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Parmenides, and Zeno. It also discusses the differences between Greek city-states like Sparta and Athens, and events like the Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War that divided Greece. Plato's Republic is described as humanity's first attempt at systematically discussing the ideal way to live.
This document provides an overview of some key ancient Greek philosophers, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It discusses their lives, ideas, and influences. Socrates believed in questioning assumptions to arrive at truth and was sentenced to death for corrupting youth. Plato was his student and founded the Academy, promoting his theory of Forms. Aristotle was a student of Plato who emphasized observation and founded the Lyceum, making major contributions across many fields. Both Plato and Aristotle had significant impacts on Western thought.
Plato is one of the most influential philosophers in history known for establishing philosophy as a rigorous examination of ethical, political, metaphysical and epistemological issues. He wrote primarily in dialogue form, most featuring Socrates, to explore profound questions in an open-ended way that invites further thought. While Plato is associated with key doctrines like the theory of forms, his works often raise puzzles about these ideas and leave interpretations unfinished, showing philosophy as a living subject. Plato's indirect style through dialogue makes attributing views to him difficult, but he transformed intellectual thought in a lasting way.
For AS Level Philosophy, however, again like my other uploads, it is useful for A2 Philosophy because understanding of Aristotle's concepts is crucial to be able to hold an argument in A2 essays so this is just a brief revision summary.
If you found this useful, please make sure to give it a like!
Thank you !!!
This document provides an overview of ancient philosophy, focusing on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It discusses their lives, key works, and philosophical approaches. Socrates employed the Socratic method of questioning to investigate concepts like virtue and justice. Plato documented Socrates' teachings and developed his theory of forms, distinguishing between imperfect sensory knowledge and perfect forms. Aristotle built on Plato's teachings and was the first to classify fields of study and develop formal logic. He advocated for a liberal arts education at his Lyceum institute.
Plato and Aristotle were two of the most influential ancient Greek philosophers. Plato founded the Academy, one of the earliest known institutions of higher learning, and developed his theory of Forms which posited that the perceived world is merely a shadow of the ideal world of perfect Forms. Aristotle was a student at Plato's Academy and went on to found his own school, the Lyceum. He wrote on many topics and helped develop logic and categorized fields of knowledge. Both philosophers had a major impact on Western thought and their works were hugely influential on later philosophers and theologians.
The document discusses the Sophists, Socrates, and Plato's Allegory of the Cave. It describes how the Sophists taught practical subjects but were not true philosophers. It outlines Socrates' questioning method and his execution for "corrupting the youth." It then explains Plato's Allegory of the Cave, which depicts people chained in a cave seeing only shadows on the wall and coming to understand true reality outside the cave. The allegory represents Plato's view that everyday experiences are less real than abstract ideas.
This document provides an overview of the life and philosophy of Socrates and his most famous student, Plato. It describes how Socrates used questioning to expose the ignorance of those who claimed to have knowledge. He was eventually sentenced to death, which traumatized Plato. Plato went on to establish the Academy and write dialogues featuring Socrates to defend his teachings and reputation. The document also gives a brief introduction to Plato's theory of Forms and his view that true knowledge comes from understanding abstract concepts rather than sensory experiences.
Aristotle argues that happiness, or eudaimonia, is the highest human good and consists of living a virtuous life guided by reason. He defines virtue as a mean between deficiencies and excesses of emotions and actions. Virtues are developed through practice and experience. Aristotle claims humans are political animals that require community to fully develop their rational nature and virtue. Therefore, the goal of politics and the state is to support citizens in cultivating moral character and achieving happiness through reasonable laws, education, and a system that enables a good life.
Anaximander was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus who lived from around 610-546 BC. He was a student of Thales and succeeded him as the leader of the Milesian school of philosophy. Anaximander is considered one of the first scientists and philosophers in the Western world. He developed early theories of cosmology, including that the Earth is cylindrical and floats stationary at the center of the infinite universe. He also speculated that other worlds could exist and proposed the first non-mythological explanation of the universe's origins from an indefinite primordial substance called the apeiron.
- Aristotle was a Greek philosopher born in 384 BC in Stagira who attended Plato's Academy in Athens and later founded his own school, the Lyceum.
- He wrote on many topics, including logic, metaphysics, physics, biology, psychology, and political theory. He classified knowledge into theoretical and practical branches.
- In metaphysics, he explored concepts like substance, cause, categories and potentiality/actuality. He saw the world as composed of matter and form.
The document summarizes key aspects of atonement as depicted symbolically in the sanctuary services of ancient Israel. It describes how (1) the sanctuary and its rituals represented Christ's work to atone for sins, (2) priests acted as mediators between God and people, and (3) the Day of Atonement ritual symbolized how God will ultimately remove sin from the universe through Jesus.
Socrates (470-399 BC) was an influential ancient Greek philosopher known as the father of western philosophy. He did not write anything himself, and what we know about him comes from writings by his students Plato and Xenophon. Socrates taught his students through questioning and examination of moral values and ethics rather than wealth, fame, and power as the Sophists claimed. He was eventually sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock for allegedly corrupting the youth of Athens and impiety, but his teachings and approach to philosophy had a profound legacy.
The Greek Triumvirate of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle is considered the golden era of Greek philosophy. During this period, philosophy reached its highest level of perfection which coincided with Greece's political dominance. These philosophers shifted focus from material substances to inquiries about human virtues, justice, happiness, and the state. Known as the Socratic method, Socrates engaged in questioning others to expose ignorance and inconsistencies in their beliefs, establishing the foundation of philosophical reasoning that influenced both Plato and Aristotle.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were influential Greek philosophers. Socrates taught through questioning and was sentenced to death in 399 BC. His teachings were written down by his student Plato. Plato founded the Academy in 387 BC, considered the first university. Aristotle was a student at the Academy for 20 years and later founded the Lyceum school. After Alexander the Great's death, Aristotle was charged with impiety and died in Chalcis one year later.
Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Athens in 428/427 BCE. He founded the Platonic Academy and was a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. Plato is renowned for his dialogues and the Republic, which portrayed an ideal just society. He believed that immutable forms provided the truest knowledge, influencing Western philosophy. Plato established the first university and emphasized mathematics, contributing greatly to ethics, politics, and more through his writings.
Plato was a classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, and writer who founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning. He was originally a student of Socrates and helped lay the foundations of Western philosophy alongside Socrates and his own student, Aristotle. Plato authored philosophical dialogues that explored topics like politics, ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Some of his most influential works included The Republic, in which he outlined his vision of a just society, and other dialogues where he advocated concepts like the theory of forms and the immortality of the soul. Plato made major contributions to psychology through his thoughts on the tripartite nature of the soul and the distinction between knowledge and
Plato's theories of forms and the world of ideas are criticized on several grounds: [1] It is unreasonable to believe we have direct access to a separate world of perfect forms. [2] If forms truly existed, there would be agreement on their nature like the form of the horse, but there is debate. [3] Plato's concept of goodness as an ultimate form is questioned as there is no consensus on ethics across societies. His view of the soul is also dependent on accepting the world of forms which is problematic.
This document provides an introduction to theology. It defines theology as the scientific study of God and explains that God is revealed through his actions and images. Theology seeks to understand God through faith. It distinguishes theology from philosophy by stating that theology provides answers while philosophy only raises questions. The document also contrasts theology and science, asserting that theology explains creation from nothing by God while science only describes the natural world. Finally, it outlines several ways God reveals himself, including through creation, personal covenants, and most fully through Jesus Christ.
This document summarizes the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who are considered the founders of Western philosophy. It discusses their views on ethics, metaphysics, politics, and other areas. Socrates used dialectic questioning to investigate ethics. Plato believed in forms/ideas and that the intellect should control passions. His ideal republic was ruled by philosophers. Aristotle studied under Plato and founded the Lyceum. He categorized knowledge into disciplines, developed logic, and believed virtues and contemplation were required for happiness.
1) Aristotle believed that everything has a cause that sets it in motion, including changes in things over time. However, this chain of causation could not extend indefinitely, so there must be an unmoved first cause.
2) This "Prime Mover" is not an efficient physical cause like a sculptor, but rather the final cause or purpose towards which all other moving things aim.
3) The Prime Mover is immaterial and unaffected by the physical world, attracting movement through inspiration rather than physical interaction like a large ball causing smaller balls on a rubber sheet to move towards it.
PLATO;The great philosopher & his contributionTanzina14th
Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher born in 428 BC in Athens who studied under Socrates and founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest known organized schools. He was influenced by earlier philosophers like Socrates, Parmenides, and Pythagoras. Plato authored dialogues featuring Socrates discussing various philosophical ideas and established the foundations of Western philosophy focusing on ethics, politics, and epistemology.
Margaret ledwith northampton lecture 3 6 dec 2011 (7)Tim Curtis
This document discusses the concepts of placatory versus transformative practice in community development. It argues that placatory practice is decontextualized as it lacks structural analysis of issues like poverty and inequality. Transformative practice, on the other hand, is grounded in principles of social and environmental justice, popular education for participatory democracy, and analysis of power imbalances. The document advocates applying a human rights framework and emphasizing equality, dignity and respect for all in community development work. It also references concepts from theorists like Paulo Freire to argue for conscientization, collective action and dialogue as key aspects of transformative community development practice.
Plato believed education should be a virtuous pursuit of knowledge and truth, not simply a process of turning students into productive workers. This view contrasts with the "sausage machine" model of education, which Gramsci and films like The Matrix critique as creating an artificial reality to control society. Modern reports also find issues with the sausage machine approach and promoting only vocational skills. Plato saw the purpose of education as helping students attain wisdom and truth through thoughtful discussion.
This document provides an overview of ancient philosophy, focusing on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. It discusses their lives, key works, and philosophical approaches. Socrates employed the Socratic method of questioning to investigate concepts like virtue and justice. Plato documented Socrates' teachings and developed his theory of forms, distinguishing between imperfect sensory knowledge and perfect forms. Aristotle built on Plato's teachings and was the first to classify fields of study and develop formal logic. He advocated for a liberal arts education at his Lyceum institute.
Plato and Aristotle were two of the most influential ancient Greek philosophers. Plato founded the Academy, one of the earliest known institutions of higher learning, and developed his theory of Forms which posited that the perceived world is merely a shadow of the ideal world of perfect Forms. Aristotle was a student at Plato's Academy and went on to found his own school, the Lyceum. He wrote on many topics and helped develop logic and categorized fields of knowledge. Both philosophers had a major impact on Western thought and their works were hugely influential on later philosophers and theologians.
The document discusses the Sophists, Socrates, and Plato's Allegory of the Cave. It describes how the Sophists taught practical subjects but were not true philosophers. It outlines Socrates' questioning method and his execution for "corrupting the youth." It then explains Plato's Allegory of the Cave, which depicts people chained in a cave seeing only shadows on the wall and coming to understand true reality outside the cave. The allegory represents Plato's view that everyday experiences are less real than abstract ideas.
This document provides an overview of the life and philosophy of Socrates and his most famous student, Plato. It describes how Socrates used questioning to expose the ignorance of those who claimed to have knowledge. He was eventually sentenced to death, which traumatized Plato. Plato went on to establish the Academy and write dialogues featuring Socrates to defend his teachings and reputation. The document also gives a brief introduction to Plato's theory of Forms and his view that true knowledge comes from understanding abstract concepts rather than sensory experiences.
Aristotle argues that happiness, or eudaimonia, is the highest human good and consists of living a virtuous life guided by reason. He defines virtue as a mean between deficiencies and excesses of emotions and actions. Virtues are developed through practice and experience. Aristotle claims humans are political animals that require community to fully develop their rational nature and virtue. Therefore, the goal of politics and the state is to support citizens in cultivating moral character and achieving happiness through reasonable laws, education, and a system that enables a good life.
Anaximander was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus who lived from around 610-546 BC. He was a student of Thales and succeeded him as the leader of the Milesian school of philosophy. Anaximander is considered one of the first scientists and philosophers in the Western world. He developed early theories of cosmology, including that the Earth is cylindrical and floats stationary at the center of the infinite universe. He also speculated that other worlds could exist and proposed the first non-mythological explanation of the universe's origins from an indefinite primordial substance called the apeiron.
- Aristotle was a Greek philosopher born in 384 BC in Stagira who attended Plato's Academy in Athens and later founded his own school, the Lyceum.
- He wrote on many topics, including logic, metaphysics, physics, biology, psychology, and political theory. He classified knowledge into theoretical and practical branches.
- In metaphysics, he explored concepts like substance, cause, categories and potentiality/actuality. He saw the world as composed of matter and form.
The document summarizes key aspects of atonement as depicted symbolically in the sanctuary services of ancient Israel. It describes how (1) the sanctuary and its rituals represented Christ's work to atone for sins, (2) priests acted as mediators between God and people, and (3) the Day of Atonement ritual symbolized how God will ultimately remove sin from the universe through Jesus.
Socrates (470-399 BC) was an influential ancient Greek philosopher known as the father of western philosophy. He did not write anything himself, and what we know about him comes from writings by his students Plato and Xenophon. Socrates taught his students through questioning and examination of moral values and ethics rather than wealth, fame, and power as the Sophists claimed. He was eventually sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock for allegedly corrupting the youth of Athens and impiety, but his teachings and approach to philosophy had a profound legacy.
The Greek Triumvirate of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle is considered the golden era of Greek philosophy. During this period, philosophy reached its highest level of perfection which coincided with Greece's political dominance. These philosophers shifted focus from material substances to inquiries about human virtues, justice, happiness, and the state. Known as the Socratic method, Socrates engaged in questioning others to expose ignorance and inconsistencies in their beliefs, establishing the foundation of philosophical reasoning that influenced both Plato and Aristotle.
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were influential Greek philosophers. Socrates taught through questioning and was sentenced to death in 399 BC. His teachings were written down by his student Plato. Plato founded the Academy in 387 BC, considered the first university. Aristotle was a student at the Academy for 20 years and later founded the Lyceum school. After Alexander the Great's death, Aristotle was charged with impiety and died in Chalcis one year later.
Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Athens in 428/427 BCE. He founded the Platonic Academy and was a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle. Plato is renowned for his dialogues and the Republic, which portrayed an ideal just society. He believed that immutable forms provided the truest knowledge, influencing Western philosophy. Plato established the first university and emphasized mathematics, contributing greatly to ethics, politics, and more through his writings.
Plato was a classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, and writer who founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest institutions of higher learning. He was originally a student of Socrates and helped lay the foundations of Western philosophy alongside Socrates and his own student, Aristotle. Plato authored philosophical dialogues that explored topics like politics, ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Some of his most influential works included The Republic, in which he outlined his vision of a just society, and other dialogues where he advocated concepts like the theory of forms and the immortality of the soul. Plato made major contributions to psychology through his thoughts on the tripartite nature of the soul and the distinction between knowledge and
Plato's theories of forms and the world of ideas are criticized on several grounds: [1] It is unreasonable to believe we have direct access to a separate world of perfect forms. [2] If forms truly existed, there would be agreement on their nature like the form of the horse, but there is debate. [3] Plato's concept of goodness as an ultimate form is questioned as there is no consensus on ethics across societies. His view of the soul is also dependent on accepting the world of forms which is problematic.
This document provides an introduction to theology. It defines theology as the scientific study of God and explains that God is revealed through his actions and images. Theology seeks to understand God through faith. It distinguishes theology from philosophy by stating that theology provides answers while philosophy only raises questions. The document also contrasts theology and science, asserting that theology explains creation from nothing by God while science only describes the natural world. Finally, it outlines several ways God reveals himself, including through creation, personal covenants, and most fully through Jesus Christ.
This document summarizes the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who are considered the founders of Western philosophy. It discusses their views on ethics, metaphysics, politics, and other areas. Socrates used dialectic questioning to investigate ethics. Plato believed in forms/ideas and that the intellect should control passions. His ideal republic was ruled by philosophers. Aristotle studied under Plato and founded the Lyceum. He categorized knowledge into disciplines, developed logic, and believed virtues and contemplation were required for happiness.
1) Aristotle believed that everything has a cause that sets it in motion, including changes in things over time. However, this chain of causation could not extend indefinitely, so there must be an unmoved first cause.
2) This "Prime Mover" is not an efficient physical cause like a sculptor, but rather the final cause or purpose towards which all other moving things aim.
3) The Prime Mover is immaterial and unaffected by the physical world, attracting movement through inspiration rather than physical interaction like a large ball causing smaller balls on a rubber sheet to move towards it.
PLATO;The great philosopher & his contributionTanzina14th
Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher born in 428 BC in Athens who studied under Socrates and founded the Academy in Athens, one of the earliest known organized schools. He was influenced by earlier philosophers like Socrates, Parmenides, and Pythagoras. Plato authored dialogues featuring Socrates discussing various philosophical ideas and established the foundations of Western philosophy focusing on ethics, politics, and epistemology.
Margaret ledwith northampton lecture 3 6 dec 2011 (7)Tim Curtis
This document discusses the concepts of placatory versus transformative practice in community development. It argues that placatory practice is decontextualized as it lacks structural analysis of issues like poverty and inequality. Transformative practice, on the other hand, is grounded in principles of social and environmental justice, popular education for participatory democracy, and analysis of power imbalances. The document advocates applying a human rights framework and emphasizing equality, dignity and respect for all in community development work. It also references concepts from theorists like Paulo Freire to argue for conscientization, collective action and dialogue as key aspects of transformative community development practice.
Plato believed education should be a virtuous pursuit of knowledge and truth, not simply a process of turning students into productive workers. This view contrasts with the "sausage machine" model of education, which Gramsci and films like The Matrix critique as creating an artificial reality to control society. Modern reports also find issues with the sausage machine approach and promoting only vocational skills. Plato saw the purpose of education as helping students attain wisdom and truth through thoughtful discussion.
This document provides an agenda and background information for a discussion on Plato and his early dialogues. It summarizes Plato's life and works, introduces Socrates and the distinction between the historical Socrates and Plato's literary portrayal of him. It explains Plato's method of elenchus and how his dialogues typically end in aporia. It also briefly outlines Plato's Euthyphro dialogue and introduces the concept of divine command theory.
The document summarizes key aspects of ancient Greek philosophy and mythology:
1) It discusses Zeus and the Olympian gods who ruled after overthrowing the Titans in Greek mythology.
2) It compares the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, with Plato believing ideas are more real than physical things, while Aristotle emphasized investigating the physical world.
3) It briefly summarizes Plato's Allegory of the Cave, which describes how prisoners chained in a cave only see shadows on the cave wall and must free themselves to discover the real world outside.
As blood flows through capillaries, some plasma leaks out through gaps between capillary cells and into the spaces between tissue cells, forming tissue fluid. Tissue fluid is similar to plasma but contains fewer protein molecules, which are too large to pass through the capillary gaps. Red blood cells also cannot pass through, but some white blood cells such as neutrophils can squeeze into the tissue fluid. Other small molecules in tissue fluid include glucose, urea, amino acids, and water. Tissue fluid is drained by the lymphatic system.
This document discusses the debate around body-soul dualism between several ancient philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Descartes. Plato argued that the soul and body are two distinct substances, with the soul being the true identity of a person. Aristotle revised Plato's idea of forms with his Third Man argument. Descartes also viewed the mind and body as distinct, with the soul interacting with the body through important spirits.
Richard Dawkins is a materialist who does not believe in the existence of the soul. He rejects ideas of the soul proposed by Plato and Descartes, arguing that there is no evidence for an immortal soul and that human consciousness is simply a product of brain activity. Dawkins sees the concept of the soul as an illusion caused by ignorance and believes that after death, there is nothing left to exist since life and mind end with the physical body.
This document discusses different aspects of epistemology and the theory of knowledge. It addresses what knowledge is according to different philosophers like Plato, the types of knowledge including propositional and procedural knowledge. It also examines how we acquire knowledge through different theories like empiricism and rationalism. The document analyzes concepts like justification, belief, truth, skepticism and addresses issues like the Gettier problem, externalism vs internalism, the regress problem and responses to it like foundationalism, coherentism and foundherentism. It also briefly mentions other topics related to knowledge acquisition like perception, memory, reason, testimony and consciousness.
Idealism holds that ideas or mind are the ultimate reality. It emphasizes that knowledge is obtained through reasoning and speculation rather than observation alone. Several philosophers contributed to the development of idealism, including Plato, who believed knowledge comes from recollection of innate ideas, and Kant, who saw the mind as giving meaning to the world. Idealism views education as developing students' abilities and character to serve society by focusing on subjects of the mind through discussion and questioning.
Plato introduces the theory of imitation, which argues that art and literature are imitations of nature rather than reflections of truth or reality. According to Plato's theory, a painter's depiction of a chair is twice removed from the truth since it is an imitation of the carpenter's physical chair, which itself is an imitation of the ideal "chair" form. Plato believed that literature could misguide society and corrupt youth, and thus wanted to ban poets from his republic. However, the conclusion is that while Plato makes a valid point about imitation, poetry is not inherently harmful.
This document discusses several philosophical arguments for dualism, the belief that the mind and body are distinct entities. It outlines Platonic, Cartesian, and introspective arguments for dualism, including that the mind seems to pre-exist according to Plato, Descartes' view that "I think therefore I am" separates mind and body, and that humans can introspect and be in contact with their own mind.
The document discusses the philosophy of realism and its implications for education. It outlines four forms of realism - scholastic, humanistic, social, and sense-realism. Key philosophers discussed include Aristotle, Aquinas, Bacon, and Locke. Realism holds that the external world exists independently of the mind and can be understood through observation and experience. In education, realism emphasizes understanding the material world, a practical curriculum focused on science and culture, and developing the whole person.
Ancient Greek influences on philosophy of religion - AS OCR Philosophy of Rel...wizwardealdam
Plato: the Analogy of the Cave
The Republic VII. 514A–521B
Candidates should be able to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of what might be
represented in the Analogy of the Cave by the
following:
• the prisoners, the shadows, the cave itself, the
outside world, the sun, the journey out of the
cave and the return to the prisoners.
Candidates should be able to discuss critically
the validity of the points being made in this
analogy.
Plato: the concept of the Forms;
the Form of the Good
Candidates should understand what Plato meant
by ‘Forms’ and be able to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of:
• the relation between concepts and
phenomena;
• the concept of ‘Ideals’;
• the relation between the Form of the Good
and the other Forms.
Candidates should be able to discuss critically
the validity of the above points.
Aristotle: ideas about cause and purpose in
relation to God
Metaphysics Book 12
Candidates should be able to demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of:
• Aristotle’s understanding of material, efficient,
formal and final cause;
• Aristotle’s concept of the Prime Mover.
Candidates should be able to discuss critically
the validity of the above points.
This document summarizes key concepts in philosophy including:
1) Reason and revelation are two approaches to assessing religious claims, through reasoned arguments or revelations respectively. Deductive and inductive reasoning are also discussed.
2) Plato and Aristotle laid the foundations of Western philosophy between the 6th-4th century BCE. Plato believed in two worlds, the physical and perfect worlds, and that we perceive shadows of true forms.
3) Plato's analogy of the cave illustrates that most people are imprisoned by their limited perceptions, and the journey to truth is philosophical. Forms like justice exist beyond normal perception in the perfect world.
Marks scheme ancient philosophical influencessociologistSic
Critically compare Plato's form of the good with Aristotle's prime mover
Mark scheme made by me around Summer 2022 - may have errors, always compare with info in textbook
Ancient philosophical influences, A level RE, made by me in summer 2022, example mark scheme/essay help. may contain errors - always compare with info in textbook. Critically compare Plato’s form of the good with Aristotle’s prime mover. (40) GO
Put your Hands on the Plough: And Never Look BackPeter Anyebe
Given a paradigm shift in which there are four, 4 realms of existence that include spirit, soul, mind, and matter rather than the current one, 1 realm that includes only matter; the possibility of causal openness and closure become apparent.
Thus energy exists in all four, 4 realms, but in different forms, to describe an open system that allows the free movement of energy between the realms.
In the spirit it is an idea, in the mind it is objectivity, in matter it is procedure, and in the soul, power.
But the system is also closed, to the extent that it obeys reciprocity, continuity, and conservation, for maturity.
Plato developed his Theory of Ideas to address the question "What is truly real?". He proposed that there are universal ideas that represent perfect forms, like the ideal "Cat", that are eternal and immutable. Particular objects in the world only imperfectly represent these ideas. Plato distinguished between knowledge gained through reason and intellect versus opinion from sensory perception. His metaphysical system included eternal ideas that represented true reality, and changing physical phenomena. Plato also developed a hierarchy of knowledge and a tripartite theory of the soul to explain human understanding and fulfillment. Later philosophers like Ibn 'Arabi drew upon Plato's ideas in developing their own spiritual frameworks and understanding the stages of human and cosmic evolution.
Plato argues that there are two worlds - the temporary physical world perceived by the senses and the permanent metaphysical world of ideas. In Timaeus, he establishes that the physical world is imperfect and changing while the world of ideas is perfect and unchanging. Parmenides clarifies that while the worlds are distinct, the physical world participates in ideas by resembling them. Phaedo explains that through philosophy and reflection, the soul can transcend the physical world and access the unchanging world of knowledge and ideas. Plato thus believes knowledge is permanent and exists in the metaphysical world of perfect forms.
The document discusses different philosophers' views on the concept of self:
1. For Socrates, self-examination is essential to living an examined life. He questioned people's awareness of themselves and their virtues.
2. Plato added that the rational, spirited, and appetitive souls must be governed by reason.
3. Augustine and Aquinas viewed humans as composed of a mortal body and immortal soul, with the soul giving humans their essence.
4. Descartes defined self as mind/consciousness, separate from the extended body. Hume saw self as a bundle of impressions and ideas. Kant argued the mind organizes sense impressions.
5. Ryle rejected the
This document discusses various philosophical concepts and debates around epistemology and metaphysics. It covers Plato's theory of forms, Aristotle's four causes, rationalism vs empiricism, Descartes' foundationalism, skepticism, objective vs subjective truth, and thinkers like Kierkegaard and Dostoevsky. Key debates include the nature and limits of knowledge, whether truth resides in the intelligible or physical world, and whether truth is objective or subjective.
This document provides an overview of Plato and his philosophy, comparing some of his key ideas to those of other thinkers like Moses, Socrates, and Aristotle. It discusses Plato's theory of forms, the allegory of the cave, his view of knowledge as innate in the soul and learned through reasoning rather than senses. It also summarizes his ideas about the tripartite nature of the soul and its immortality. Later sections explore how Plato's philosophy influenced later traditions like Neoplatonism under thinkers like Plotinus.
The document provides background information on Plato and his philosophical ideas:
- Plato was a student of Socrates and founded the Academy in Athens, where he taught Aristotle. He is known for his dialogues which discuss concepts like truth, goodness, and beauty.
- In his dialogues, Plato used myths and allegories to convey his philosophical views, such as the Allegory of the Cave and the theory of Forms.
- Plato's theory of Forms proposes that perfect, eternal ideas or forms of things exist independently of the material world, which is just an imperfect reflection of these forms.
I am Dr. John Fruncillo and I will be your professor for this on-.docxsusanschei
This document provides an overview of existentialism, discussing several key ideas:
1) Existentialism holds that individuals must create their own meaning through their choices and actions, as there is no inherent or predetermined meaning or essence.
2) According to existentialism, existence precedes essence - people exist first and then define themselves through their choices rather than having a fixed essence.
3) Sartre's existentialism emphasizes the states of forlornness, anguish, and despair that result from individual freedom and responsibility in a world without God or inherent purpose.
4) Existentialist philosophers like Sartre, Heidegger, and Kierkegaard stressed authenticity
Plato's allegory of the cave describes the journey from ignorance to knowledge. Prisoners are chained in a cave seeing only shadows on the wall from objects carried behind them. One prisoner is freed and sees the real objects, experiencing pain from the light. After adjusting, he understands the shadows were not reality. If he returns to the cave, his knowledge is ridiculed. Plato uses this to represent the intellectual journey from opinions based on appearances to true knowledge grasped by reason. His divided line further shows progressing from lower to higher thought - from images to intelligence of the forms.
Plato's theory of Forms posits that there is a higher, more real realm of ideal and perfect forms that particular objects in the sensible world imperfectly participate in. He uses three analogies - the Sun, the Divided Line, and the Cave - to illustrate this theory. While some problems exist regarding how the realms interact, Plato makes a strong case that mathematics and abstract concepts we grasp through reason suggest there is a deeper reality beyond what our senses show us. Therefore, his theory of a separate, higher order of intelligible forms is quite plausible.
The document provides an overview of several early Greek philosophers who lived prior to Socrates, known as the pre-Socratics. It discusses their ideas and philosophical questions, including Thales who proposed everything is made of water, Pythagoras who believed in mathematical and numerical principles of reality, and Parmenides who argued that change is an illusion and the true nature of reality is eternal and unchanging. It also summarizes the atomic theory of Democritus and how pre-Socratic philosophers influenced later traditions of Western philosophy.
The document discusses Aristotle's distinction between matter and form. Aristotle believed that matter is the raw materials that make up a thing, while form is the organization or essence that makes it what it is. For example, wood is the matter of a bed, while "bedness" is its form. The soul, according to Aristotle, is the form or actualizing principle of a living being. It brings the potential in matter to actuality. The relationship between matter and form is complex in living things, as their matter and form are intrinsically connected.
This document discusses different philosophical perspectives on the concept of the self. It begins by outlining the objectives of understanding the self from a philosophical lens and exploring key questions about the nature of the self. It then provides an overview of empiricism and rationalism as two approaches in philosophy. Several philosophers are discussed, including their distinct views on the self - whether it is composed of mind and body, a soul, or reducible to behaviors. In under 3 sentences, the document seeks to explain different philosophical perspectives on the concept of the self by outlining key questions about the nature of the self, discussing empiricism and rationalism, and summarizing various philosophers' distinct views on whether the self is composed of mind and body, a soul
Similar to Getting into AS Level Philosophy - Plato (18)
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Association’s Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
Main Java[All of the Base Concepts}.docxadhitya5119
This is part 1 of my Java Learning Journey. This Contains Custom methods, classes, constructors, packages, multithreading , try- catch block, finally block and more.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
The simplified electron and muon model, Oscillating Spacetime: The Foundation...RitikBhardwaj56
Discover the Simplified Electron and Muon Model: A New Wave-Based Approach to Understanding Particles delves into a groundbreaking theory that presents electrons and muons as rotating soliton waves within oscillating spacetime. Geared towards students, researchers, and science buffs, this book breaks down complex ideas into simple explanations. It covers topics such as electron waves, temporal dynamics, and the implications of this model on particle physics. With clear illustrations and easy-to-follow explanations, readers will gain a new outlook on the universe's fundamental nature.
How to Add Chatter in the odoo 17 ERP ModuleCeline George
In Odoo, the chatter is like a chat tool that helps you work together on records. You can leave notes and track things, making it easier to talk with your team and partners. Inside chatter, all communication history, activity, and changes will be displayed.
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
How to Fix the Import Error in the Odoo 17Celine George
An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find out more about ISO training and certification services
Training: ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System - EN | PECB
ISO/IEC 42001 Artificial Intelligence Management System - EN | PECB
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Training Courses - EN | PECB
Webinars: https://pecb.com/webinars
Article: https://pecb.com/article
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information about PECB:
Website: https://pecb.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pecb/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PECBInternational/
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/PECBCERTIFICATION
Film vocab for eal 3 students: Australia the movie
Getting into AS Level Philosophy - Plato
1.
2. Plato was the student of Socrates (c. 470 – 399), another well-known Greek
philosopher. Most of what we know about Socrates, comes from the writings of Plato.
In Athens at the time, the government was democratic but Socrates preferred a form
of government where one wise individual ruled. Socrates did not hide this belief so
because of his free mindedness and open opinions, he influenced many people,
including Plato, but he also became unpopular with others.
As a result, Socrates was arrested on charges of corrupting the young and sentenced
to death by poison. Socrates could have appealed for leniency but he stood for what
he believed in and that the search for truth was more important than life itself.
Socrates died by drinking poisonous hemlock.
Plato then wrote many philosophical writings that were in the forms of dialogues and
Socrates was always made to be the main character and the wisest.
Plato was a rationalist because he supported being rational and using our minds
(nous). He was also a dualist because he believed that the body (sarx) and soul
(psyche) exist separately but are linked in some way.
3. Socrates believed that to be moral, you had to have true knowledge to know what is
the right thing to do.
Plato believed there were two types of knowledge (episteme):
• empirical knowledge – knowledge that is gained through the senses.
• innate knowledge – knowledge that is gained through the mind (nous) rather than
through the senses. It is an essential part of our character which we have from birth.
Plato did not believe that we gained knowledge from our senses (empirical
knowledge) because they cannot be trusted and is unreliable. It is subject to change
because the world is in a constant state of flux and can produce illusions (eikasia).
Heraclitus: “You cannot step into the same river twice”
Because Plato was a dualist, he believed that our innate knowledge is in our soul
(psyche) and that the soul comes from the world of the Forms (Noeton).
Plato also believed that we are able to remember and rediscover inner truth known
within our souls from the world of the Forms (Noeton), by the process of anamnesis.
4. As a result, Plato believed in two worlds:
• Horaton – world of appearances.
• Noeton – world of reality.
Plato believed that there were two types of beings:
• Spiritual beings (souls).
• Material beings (houses / chairs / dogs etc).
In Horaton, everything is in a constant state of flux, so empirical knowledge is not true
knowledge, but just a set of subjective opinions (doxa). In Noeton, there is true
knowledge that will never change.
The Noeton is also known as the realm of the Forms (eidos).
Noeton (world of reality) Horaton (world of appearances)
World of souls / Forms World we live in
World of perfect concepts World of imperfect phenomena
Intelligible world Visible world
World beyond the senses World of senses
World of true knowledge World of opinions
Eternal and unchanging Decaying and changing
5. Plato rejected art because it is a product of our senses which are capable of producing
illusions (eikasia)We all may agree that there is some degree of beauty in a painting or
masterpiece but Plato developed the idea that there is a Form called ‘beauty’, of which
we have a dim recollection from our prior existence in Noeton. Whenever we see
something that may contain elements of this Form, we recognise it as beautiful.
According to Plato, Horaton is a pale imitation of the real world. Because our world is
in a constant state of flux, Plato believed that there must be a world that is unchanging
and contains perfect Forms of the things we know on Earth, which he believed to be
Noeton.
Noeton contains fixed truths which are absolutely true for all time, people and place,
therefore it is objective.
The Forms are timeless / spaceless / perfect / eternal / divine
The particulars participate in the Form. A child may distinguish between a horse and a
dog, showing that the child is recognising the Form, yet older people may distinguish
certain characteristics between the horse and dog, focussing on more details.
6. Plato said we recognise the Forms because we are born with a dim recollection of
them from our prior existence in Noeton. There is an inner part of us, perhaps the soul
(psyche), that does not change. It is eternal and before it became trapped in the body,
it was connected with the real world of the Forms. It is because we have seen the
Forms before, that we can recognise them now.
The most important Form (highest Form) is the Form of the Good. In Horaton, we can
label things as Good, yet we truly do not understand the what Goodness is as it is
subjective. Plato argues that Goodness is the most important Form and this Form of
the Good is the source of the other Forms. Good is objective/absolute and has moral
values as it comes from the Forms.
Plato uses an analogy of sight to illustrate the importance of the Form of the Good:
• Sight requires both light and the eye to see clearly.
• Light symbolises the Form of the Good.
• This implies that without the knowledge of the Form of the Good, one cannot see
clearly.
• This is the same as trying to see in the dark.
Some Forms are greater than others, so they are ideal Forms, which have something in
common. They all have the presence of Good in them and are universal qualities. In
this way, because Good is the most important Form, it is the ‘Form of the Forms’. Once
Good is understood, other Forms such as Justice, Truth and Beauty can also be
understood as they are aspects of Goodness.
7. • Form (eidos) – an idea of the appearance of something. e.g. Cats are different as
there are many types and species but overall, we have a basic idea of what a cat looks
like as anyone can distinguish between a cat and a dog.
• Particulars – specific details which add to the Form to make it what it is. Superficial
details which overlay the Form, shows what makes it unique and are pale copies of the
Form.
• The Form of the Good – most important / ideal Form as Plato believes it to be ‘The
Form of the Forms’.
Does recognition of the Forms prove we have an eternal soul?
We are taught things through experience, such as names of objects and animals.
Everyone has different interpretations of hate / beauty / love as they are subjective.
We learn this through repetition and education, so we gain this through empirical
knowledge, therefore we may not have an eternal soul.
Like Socrates believed that society should be ruled by a wise individual instead of a
democracy, Plato also believed that a Philosopher should rule society because they
would have a deeper understanding of the Form of the Good. Along with this
understanding, they therefore have a better idea of justice and truth so they would be
perfect at ruling society. On the other hand, Politicians are good at lying and view their
personal self-interest in the highest regard.
8. Plato’s God was called the Demiurge (craftsman). The Demiurge is perfectly good but
not omnipotent. The Demiurge did not create the world creatio ex nihilo, but used
pre-existing matter. This raw, pre-existing matter had always existed in a state of
chaos.
e.g. A potter moulds clay to make objects, however the potter does not make
the clay. The potter simply moulds it to make objects out of it.
The Demiurge had a model to work from. The Forms are timeless and spaceless so
these acted like the blueprints to create the imperfect objects that are not timeless or
spaceless.
The Demiurge did not create the Forms, nor did the Forms create or do anything. The
Forms were simply there. The Demiurge used them as a model after which he made
the universe, however, he had a problem:
• Forms were timeless, spaceless and immutable (unchangeable).
• The material the Demiurge had to work with, was not timeless, spaceless or
immutable.
• Therefore, the Demiurge had to use imperfect materials to model something that
resembled the perfect original.
• Therefore, the universe has to be an imperfect model.
9. The Demiurge did the best he could, but given the imperfect material he was working
with, inevitably resulted in an imperfect world.
Plato believed that this accounted for many of the imperfections in the world.
e.g. Evil and suffering.
In this way, instances of beauty, truth, justice and goodness are not found to be
perfect in this world because we know people who are truthful, yet it does not mean
that they are perfectly truthful.
The Demiurge – summary:
• Found in Timaeus.
• Plato’s God, the Demiurge (meaning craftsman) is perfectly good but is not
omnipotent.
• The Demiurge used pre-existing matter that he did not create, to fashion/mould the
universe.
• The Demiurge did not create the universe creatio ex nihilo.
• Evil is present in the universe because:
- the pre-existing matter resisted his will.
- the universe is within space and time, whereas the forms are beyond space
and time.
• The Demiurge brings order out of chaos
10. As Plato was a dualist, he believed the body (sarx) is a physical thing as it exists within
time and space. The mind (nous), however, is beyond time and space because it exists
in the realm of the Forms (Noeton), therefore, it can access universal truths from the
world of ideas.
On the other hand, the soul (psyche) is immortal as it is also a part of the world of
ideas. The soul is the perfect, essential, immaterial part of a human which is within the
human temporarily as then it will return to the realm of the Forms (Noeton). Plato
believed that the body houses the soul but technically imprisons it so the soul is the
prisoner of the body.
Plato uses an analogy of a chariot to compare the relationship of the soul with the
mind and body. The soul is compared to a chariot because the body and mind are two
horses being controlled and driven by the soul.
Plato believed that the mind and body are also often in opposition. The mind wants to
understand ideas, to gain real knowledge of the Forms, but the body is interested in
only sense pleasures.
e.g. The body constantly needs food and sleep. This gets in the way of
intellectual pursuits.
11. Sometimes the demands of the body are so great that it clutters the minds with
unnecessary thoughts such as ‘What’s for lunch?’ / ‘Do I look ok?’
Plato: “The body is the source of endless trouble”
In connection with Plato’s concept that the soul is immortal, all knowledge is
recollected. He thought this because of the widespread belief that murder is wrong,
therefore these ideas must be with us from a previous existence.
As a person discovers different elements of the physical world, this begins a process of
remembering. The psyche begins to remember the World of the Forms (Noeton)
which it once inhabited and longs to return to this unchanging world. It becomes
increasingly unsatisfied with the limitations of the World of Appearances (Horaton).
Plato again, uses the metaphor of light.
In Plato’s dialogue Phaedo, Socrates claims that doing philosophy is a rehearsal for
death. What he meant by this was that death separates the soul from the body and
philosophy is about trying to concentrate on the real truth rather than appearances.
Plato argues that when the Athenian Government caused the death of Socrates, they
did not win because they released his trapped psyche from the body, allowing it to
return to Noeton to renew its knowledge of the Form of the Good.
12. Found in Plato’s Republic. It is used to explain his Theory of the Forms and Socrates is
the main character.
• Prisoners are chained, facing a wall deep within a cave.
• Puppeteers cause shadows to fall on the wall in front of the prisoners by using
puppets.
• Prisoners think the shadows they experience are true reality.
• A prisoner is freed to the real spiritual world.
• He recognises the puppets in the shadows.
• He sees the Sun giving life to all things and all puppets.
• When he returns to the cave to tell the other prisoners the truth, they try to kill him.
13. 1. The cave and the prisoners:
The cave represents Horaton and the prisoners are humans who are trapped in this
illusory world. The prisoners represent ordinary, unenlightened people whose
lives and minds are empty of philosophy.
2. The shadows:
Represent illusions (eikasia) within the cave (Horaton). Also symbolise the states of
mind, the lowest level of understanding based on opinion (doxa) because the
prisoners are tricked into believing that these illusions are real.
3. The puppeteers:
Represent the powerful, influential members of society. They use artificial surrounding
to control and manipulate the information the prisoners receive. Like the
prisoners, they are also living in a false reality.
4. The ‘released’ prisoner:
Represents Socrates, who has no concern over popular beliefs of his day, therefore, he
died for his beliefs and values. Also represents every philosopher who seeks truth
and wisdom. They challenge the reality of this world and question where it may
come from.
5. The ‘released’ prisoners journey out of the cave:
Represents the process of anamnesis, the journey of the nous or psyche in pursuit of
the examined life. Symbolically shows the becoming of a true philosopher because
it is difficult grappling with new ideas.
14. 6. The world beyond the cave:
Represents the real world – Noeton. The World of the Forms are beyond the shadows.
7. The Sun:
A metaphor representing the source of absolute truth. The Sun represents the Form of
the Good. When the ‘released’ prisoner sees the sun, it represents the
philosopher achieving enlightenment.
8. Return to the cave:
When the ‘released’ prisoner returns to the cave to tell the other prisoners the truth
and wants to free them, they say they will kill him because they