Plato

Question 1

(T or F) Plato was an Ancient Greek Philosopher who came before Socrates.

Answer 1

False. Plato was an Ancient Greek philosopher however he came after Socrates.

Question 2

Plato came up with an allegory of a cave. Describe his allegory. [4 marks]

Answer 2

In Plato’s allegory, there are some prisoners chained up inside a cave casting shadows on the wall in front of them. The prisoners believe the shadows are reality because it is the only thing they have ever witnessed. One day, a prisoner escapes the cave and is introduced to the outside world. At first, he is confused as to where he is and what this place is. However, after some thought he realises that this “place” is actually reality and the cave that he had been in his whole life was an illusion. Thrilled at his discovery, he goes to tell the other prisoners, however they do not believe him because they haven’t seen it for themselves.

Question 3

What do you think plato’s allegory of the cave symbolises?

Answer 3

I think that the allegory is trying to educate people on escaping ignorance, thinking outside the box and becoming aware of reality as it really is. Perhaps, also he was trying to tell people to base their thoughts/feelings/beliefs off of knowledge and reason rather than “blind” assumptions.

Question 4

In what century (BCE) was Plato teaching?

Answer 4

5th century BCE

Question 5

Give a meaning for the following symbols from Plato’s allegory:
a) prisoners
b) escaped prisoner
c) shadows
d) fire
e) sun
f) cave

Answer 5

a) humans
b) philosophers
c) illusion
d) source of illusion
e) truth
f) world

Question 6

Was Plato an empiricist or a rationalist?

Answer 6

Rationalist