Plato

Question 1

Plato (dates)

Answer 1

427-347 BC

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

the essence of an object- do not exist physically, only in ‘Platonic Heaven’

Question 3

Rationalist

Answer 3

Plato.
we get our knowledge from reasoning/thinking
knowledge should be permanent, infallible. reasoning and maths don’t change- truth should be stable and away from human subjectivity. senses can be mistaken.

Question 4

What is the highest form?

Answer 4

Good. the most perfect thing and makes other things good- responsible for all knowledge and the mind (allows us to judge what is good)

Question 5

What does good split into? 3

Answer 5

Truth, beauty and justice

Question 6

What is the hierarchy of the forms?

Answer 6

Good
Truth, beauty and justice
concepts and ideals (e.g. love)
physical living things (e.g. plants)
inanimate things (e.g. chair)

Question 7

What are the three characteristics of the mind?

Answer 7

reason, passion/spirit and desire

Question 8

What is Plato’s ideal order to society?

Answer 8

the guardians (philosophers) - reason
the auxiliaries (soldiers) - passion
the craftsmen (workers) - desire

Question 9

What are the key elements of the cave?

Answer 9

Chains, people in the cave, puppet masters, shadows, cave itself, free man, outside world, sun.

Question 10

What do the key elements of the cave represent in our society?

Chains, people in the cave, puppet masters, shadows, cave itself, free man, outside world, sun.

Answer 10

chains- senses
people in cave- us
puppet masters- government or parents/teachers
shadows- our reality
cave- our world of illusions
free man- philosophers- Socrates
outside- true reality- the world of forms
sun- the highest form- good as it allows us to see/judge all other forms.