Philosophy - Plato Thought Flashcards
What did Plato think of oligarchy, and why?
He rejected oligarchy because it lead to bloodshed.
What does oligarchy mean?
The rule of a few people from aristocratic families over the people.
What did Plato argue that democracy should mean?
Many well-educated people leading and ruling the people wisely.
Who wanted a new form of democracy and not oligarchy?
Many Athenians, such as Socrates.
What did Socrates show in his famous argument with the Philosopher Protagoras?
He showed that there is more to philosophy than just cleverly winning arguments. The true aim is to make people think about ideas and their meaning.
What was the purpose of the Academy?
To educate young Athenian men to be wise future leaders by making them think and philosophize about what is true.
What were the people that thought philosophy was only about winning arguments called?
The Sophists.
What happened in the parable of the cave?
There is an underground cave, with a long tunnel to the entrance. The prisoners have been prisoners since children. They are chained so they can only see shadows from a fire behind them and believe the shadows to be reality. One day a prisoner is released, he walks towards the fire then he is dragged upwards and outside. The light of the sun is painful, then when he adjusts, he can see objects, pleased to have this new knowledge. Then he returns to the cave and his eyes have to re-adjust and then tells his story but the other prisoners think his journey was a waste of time as he struggles and they try to kill him as he tries to explain what he now knows.
what is the deeper meaning of the parable of the cave
that there is a reality greater than our experience of the world and that it is important to make the journey towards understanding, that the journey is not easy.
what do the prisoners represent
ordinary people, believing what they have been brought up to believe, minds in a state of illusion.
what do the shadows represent
represent the world as it seems to most people, a version we have been led to believe.
what do the journey out of the cave represent
as the mind goes from ignorance to true knowledge, hard work, can be painful, starts when go to school or to think for themselves.
what does the sun represent
source of truth, ultimate reality, which Plato calls ‘The Good.’ Known through reason, not belief.
what do the reaction of the prisoners represent
how difficult it is to share philosophical ideas, can be very risky.
