Plato Study questions

Questions :
1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?

3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?

4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?

5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?

6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?

7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?

8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?

Answers:


1. The allegory of the cave represents all that is maintained hidden from people is caused bwcause they are so comfortable there that they are afraid of change.
2. The cave represents the separation from the outside world. The outside world is filled with new discoveries and many opportunities.
3. The prisoners are held from leaving the cave. They only know what they see in the cave and know what they have learned in the cave.
4. The prisoners have limited experience and opportunities because they live in the cave.
5. School is a great. students are use to being to what to know, but don't challenge themselves. They can take AP courses to challenge them that can also take them out of their comfort zone and challenge them with more difficult concepts and leaving the cave.
6. The freed prisoner is exposed to the outside world. The things they are scared to experience. The freed prisoner knows the difference from the world outside of the cave and can now choose.
7. A person can choose to experience different things or they can stay in their comfort.
8. Prisoners are freed if they are shown the way out. People must be taught the different paths there are in life but it is up to us to choose
9. There is a difference between appearances and reality. You can start with appearances but it must not stop because appearances don't always tell the truth but they often give insight into the truth.