Plato

Question 1

What format did all Plato’s books take?

Answer 1

Dialogues

Question 2

What did Plato believe was wrong with doxa (popular opinion)?

Answer 2

It’s riddled with errors, prejudice and superstition

Question 3

How does Plato see the world?

Answer 3

In dual reality with reality in itself: the Realm of the Forms and the material world

Question 4

According to Plato, why can’t material/sensible things ever truly “BE”(/have perfect existence)?

Answer 4

Because they are constantly changing

Question 5

What is it to “BE”?

Answer 5

To be immaterial, immutable and necessary

Question 6

Outline the difference between “accidental” and “essence”

Answer 6

A thing has an accidental combination of characters which make it a distinct thing but what truly is in this thing is its sharing in the eternal essence of its form

Question 7

Compare the material world to reality

Answer 7

The material world is imperfect whilst the eternal forms/ideas are reality itself: they are the unchangeable essence of things

Question 8

How is the Realm of the Forms known?

Answer 8

Through reason

Question 9

How is the material realm of particulars known?

Answer 9

Through the senses

Question 10

Outline Plato’s theory on “episteme” and “doxa”

Answer 10

Whilst knowledge is infallible and about what is real, opinion/belief is fallible and between knowledge and ignorance.
Plato argued opinion relates to the material realms whilst knowledge refers to the real of the forms.
Therefore forms exist entirely separately to particulars

Question 11

What does Plato’s Cave Allegory represent?

Answer 11

The image of the cave represents the ascent of the mind from a realm of mere images to the realm of visible things to the realm of the Forms and finally to the intuition of the Good

Question 12

In Plato’s Cave, what does the cave represent?

Answer 12

The world of the senses; empirical realm

Question 13

In Plato’s Cave, what do the prisoners represent?

Answer 13

People who believe “second-hand”

Question 14

In Plato’s Cave, what do the images on the wall represent?

Answer 14

Illusion (eikasia)

Question 15

In Plato’s Cave, what does the fire represent?

Answer 15

The (physical) sun; what enables sense experience

Question 16

In Plato’s Cave, what does seeing the fire and people on the road represent?

Answer 16

Beliefs (pistis)

Question 17

In Plato’s Cave, what does outside the cave represent?

Answer 17

The intelligible world/ realm of the Forms/ reality

Question 18

In Plato’s Cave, what does the prisoner dragged outside of the cave represent?

Answer 18

The philosopher

Question 19

In Plato’s Cave, what do the objects outside the cave represent?

Answer 19

The Forms

Question 20

In Plato’s Cave, what does looking at the reflections of abjects outside the cave represent?

Answer 20

Reasoning (dianoia)

Question 21

In Plato’s Cave, what does looking at objects outside the cave represent?

Answer 21

Intelligence (noesis)

Question 22

In Plato’s Cave, what does the sun represent?

Answer 22

The Form of the Good

Question 23

What does Plato use to highlight boundaries between the physical world and the intelligible world?

Answer 23

His “Divided Line”

Question 24

Regarding Plato’s Divided Line, what is in the intelligible world (noeta) ?

Answer 24

Mathematical ideas (mathematikia)
Pure Forms (archai)

Question 25

Regarding Plato's Divided Line, what is in the physical world (doxasta) ?

Answer 25

Physical things | Images and shadows (eikones)

Question 26

Regarding Plato's Divided Line, what does knowledge consist of?

Answer 26

Intelligence Pure thought Dialect Mathematical reasoning

Question 27

Regarding Plato's Divided Line, what does belief consist of?

Answer 27

Opinion | Illusion

Question 28

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does the Sun represent?

Answer 28

The Form of the Good

Question 29

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does the visible world represent?

Answer 29

The intelligible world/ the forms

Question 30

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does seeing represent?

Answer 30

Knowing

Question 31

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does the eye represent?

Answer 31

The mind/ reason

Question 32

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does the light represent?

Answer 32

Truth

Question 33

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does sight represent?

Answer 33

Intelligence

Question 34

In Plato's simile of the Sun, what does growth represent?

Answer 34

The being (reality) of the forms

Question 35

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (1)

Answer 35

Most perfect gives most pleasure Knowing ultimate purpose constitutes knowing what is Need to know what something is "good" for to know what it is Best version of something is what carries out its purpose the best

Question 36

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (2)

Answer 36

Forms are naturally good so without form of the Good they cannot exist Form of the Good makes forms forms (gives them being and existence) Existence itself is goof

Question 37

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (3)

Answer 37

Most perfect and real Form of the forms and sustains being of other forms Forms are perfect so form of the forms is most perfect

Question 38

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (4)

Answer 38

Form of the good doesn't just make other forms knowable but is knowledgeable itself

Question 39

How would Plato's theory of the soul be best described?

Answer 39

Tripartite theroy

Question 40

What are the three parts of the soul?

Answer 40

Rational (brain/ ruling class) Spirited (heart/ soldiers) Appetitive (stomach/ working class)

Question 41

What does the animal appetites connect to?

Answer 41

Bodily urges

Question 42

What does the spirited soul connect to?

Answer 42

Moral action

Question 43

What does the rational self connect to?

Answer 43

Recognising truth using reason

Question 44

How is Plato's theory of the soul dualistic?

Answer 44

The object of the rational mind is the intelligible realm of the forms; the soul is immortal unchanging The object of the body's desires are physical things; the body is physical in a constant state of change

Question 45

Give examples of baser desires

Answer 45

Alcohol | Sex

Question 46

Explain Plato's charioteer allegory

Answer 46

The charioteer is the rational self trying to control two horses: desire and spirit Reason rules, spirit ensures that reason has motivational backing and the appetite is reined in by the rational self When the Charioteer can control the two horses it'll be harmonious

Question 47

How does Plato link the soul to the realm of the Forms?

Answer 47

The soul pre-exists the body and so remembers the world of the Forms and longs to return to the unchanging world

Question 48

How does Plato link the soul to the Form of the Good?

Answer 48

Plato believed in the way an eye needs light to see, the soul needs the Form of the Good to gain real understanding

Question 49

How does Plato's Argument from the Cycle of Opposites work?

Answer 49

Every quality comes into being from its own opposites (e.g. big things wouldn't be big without small things) Death must come from life and vice versa Plato's thought suggest an endless chain of birth, death and rebirth

Question 50

How does Plato's Argument from Knowledge work?

Answer 50

Most important human knowledge is remembering/ "leading out" what we already know Knowledge of the forms must be innate and Plato believed gained by our souls before birth and so the soul must pre-exist the body