Plato's Allegory of the Cave Part One - 6th Hour
Plato's The Allegory of the Cave" has been used as metaphor throughout time. As you blog in class think about some of the following questions and major ideas listed below. This is a scored blog; however, you will not just be scored on how many times you comment, but the uniqueness, originality, and creativity that you will bring to the discussion. Do not just comment without referencing the text or your peers. Read other comments and make connections to what your other classmates are saying. IT IS OKAY TO DISAGREE just support why. Do not repeat the same ideas that are presented by your peers. Use direct quotes from the reading, make connections and think outside the box. Most importantly have fun, and hope that our first experiment with the laptops goes well.Concepts/ideas to think about
- What is truth according to Plato?
- What do the prisoners inside the cave represent?
- What is outside the cave?
- What happens to someone that leaves the cave?
- What determines truth?
- What happens when one's truth is proven wrong?
- What is reality?
- Role of our senses
- How does this tie into society today? What are our caves?
- Why did Plato write this?
- Is it better to stay in the cave then leave the cave?
- What is perceived of those who leave the cave?
- What does the cave look like?
- Can we connect this piece of work to Athenian government? Afterall, this was a chapter in Plato's Republic.
posted by Alison | 10:47 AM
20 Comments:
I think Plato believes truth is anything that you learn or find out for yourself. I believe that he wants us to question as much as possible about our surroundings and why certain things are they way they are. I think that I agree with him to a certain point. I think it's good to question things but I don't think everything needs to be question, such as why is that chair sitting there. Is that chair really that color. What is your opinion about truth?
Reality is the truths that are within our perifial vision of life. Reality to one person can be different from reality to another, but if a person is chosing to be ignorant, his reality is not valid and SHOULD be challenged. Because all humans live in this world, reality should be universal. If a person, for instance, does not think that green is green... there is no excuse such as "That is their reality... don't think differently of them!" They grew up on our planet earth. Unless they are ill, that "reality" is not valid.
Replying to Nichole's comment...I don't think we should try to confuse ourselves with what is real and what isn't. We just need to believe what we believe and to not question it unless it needs to be questioned.
I have to agree with what Amanda said about how we need to believe in what we believe in unless we are being totally vague. I believe that all people should be accepting to new ideas and opinions and shouldn't bash them. And just because one can be accepting to new ideas doesn't mean that they have to believe or follow those ideas.
People outside of the cave are the upper class, smart, AWARE people. The people that are in the caves are the UNAWARE, lower class, dumb people that may be aware with their own surroundings, but are not able to look through other people's eyes. There will always be some OTHER point of view we will not see, but some are able to see more than another. Plato thought that the upper class were the most able "to see" all points of view, and therefore they should be trusted to handle situations with more support from "MORE absolute truths."
Did anyone understand the whole shadow metaphor? Is Plato just saying that when you are in the cave (or within yourself) you know truth but you might see shadows, which could mean other people's influences?
Plato's overall message: "Do not necessarily question your truths, but have faith in those that have a better knowledge of overall truth than yourself."
So then is the cave not a good thing to be in because you are sheltered? And are you trying to make it outside to know truth?
who do the people in the cave represent
I think that the people in the cave represent the people of Athens. The people that were not well educated or just were there to be there were prime candidates for cave dwellers. They were blind to every thing going on around them unless it directly involved them. The slaves were not in that category because if you think about it, they were observers of the Athenian people. They were able to see every thing and look at every thing. They had open doors to every part of society. The rich aristocrats were the people that controlled the cave dwellers. They were the key holders
I think that Plato uses the word "dazzle" because it's another word for astonishment, shock, and flabergast. For example, "When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled..." He is saying that we would be in complete shock if we only saw the other side.
Answering Anneliese's question (with a question)... Why is truth so desireable? Why would people want to escape being sheltered, when with truth comes more responsibility and choices.
Brit: They ARE dumb, relative to the more knowing of truth.
I disagree with Alex to a certain point. I don't think that Athenians were the ones in the cave because they were very advanced when it came to new ideas and opinions of things. I think that towards the end of their civilation they were in the cave because they were arrogant of what was happening to them and around them. But at first, I don't think they were the ones in the cave.
suzanne: the truth of the unknowledgable people in the cave is not the desired truth of the people outside of the cave, but they still have a truth even if they are "covered" with innocense.
to Amandag truth why wouldn't you you wnat to no what you cant know? that is the truth, that is why it is so desiresble to every one. You are able to hold information about something that few people only know. It is like gossip. Because when you are able to make your own choices you are then able to decide your own life. who wants their life to be picked out for them? With decions comes excitement, mistakes and freedom to fix your choices.
brit: what area's? ignorance?
I think that what Suzanne said was very accurate. Sometimes truth does hurt and sometimes it seems as though it is better to lie then to tell the truth for yourself and sometimes for others. However I think it's always the right time to tell the truth (even when it can hurt yourself or another person) because if you couldn't tell the truth then why did you do that deed that you didn't couldn't tell the truth about. Hopefully that made sense.
alex: I agree... I was just playing devil's advacate. But I also think that in searching for truth, people can dig themselves deeper into ignorance by subconciously convincing themselves of falsities. Does that make sense? I pity people like that...
... in that sense, a world outside the cave can be evil... there are more temptations and falsities...
brit: you SHOULD question my truths, if you know that they are wrong...
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