Plato - Life and The Parable of The Cave

Question 1

When was he born?

Life

Answer 1

427 BC

Question 2

Where was he born?

Life

Answer 2

Athens

Question 3

What sort of family was he born into?

Life

Answer 3

Aristocratic

Question 4

Who were his brothers? Who was the oldest?

Life

Answer 4

Glaucon and Adeimantus
Glaucon was the oldest.

Question 5

Who did Glaucon know well, and what did he say to Glaucon?

Life

Answer 5

Socrates, ‘The best and most just man is happiest, and that man is king of himself.’

Question 6

Who plays an important role in the Republic?

Life

Answer 6

Adeimantus

Question 7

Who was Socrates?

Life

Answer 7

Plato’s great friend and philosopher. One of the first people to want a democracy over an oligarchy.

Question 8

When and why was Socrates put to death and what did he say at his trial?

Life

Answer 8

399 BC because of treason.
‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’

Question 9

What was Plato’s early education for?

Life

Answer 9

To train him to become a politician.

Question 10

What was Athens fighting for most of Plato’s life?

Life

Answer 10

The Peloponnesian war.

Question 11

What was Plato’s first occupation and how long did he do it for?

Life

Answer 11

A soldier for three campaigns.

Question 12

What did Plato learn from the Pythagorean philosophers?

Life

Answer 12

About mathematics and reality. He learnt that this world is just a reflection of the real world.

Question 12

Which brothers fought with him in these campaigns?

Life

Answer 12

Neither of them.

Question 13

When was Athens in political turmoil?

Life

Answer 13

After the death of General Pericles.

Question 14

Why did Plato return to Athens?

Life

Answer 14

To teach its leading young men to be democratic rulers. By the time he had returned, he was already a respected philosopher.

Question 15

Why did Plato reject oligarchy?

Life

Answer 15

Because it lead to bloodshed.

Question 16

Why did Plato found the Academy?

Life

Answer 16

To teach the sons of leading Athenian families.

Question 17

What did Plato argue about democracy?

Life

Answer 17

It should mean many well educated people leading a ruling wisely.

Question 18

What was the Academy’s purpose?

Life

Answer 18

To make people think and philosophise what is true.

Question 19

Who did Plato teach and where?

Life

Answer 19

King Dionysius’s son in Syracuse, Sicily.

Question 20

Was his teaching job a success?

Life

Answer 20

No, the son hated maths, and didn’t think it would be useful in the future.

Question 21

Why did Plato write the Republic?

Life

Answer 21

To teach his pupils at his new academy.

Question 22

How did his books use dialogue and why?

Life

Answer 22

To teach his ideas, making them more relatable. Used stories, allegories and parables.

Question 23

When did Plato die?

Life

Answer 23

347 BC

Question 24

What is he best known for doing? Life

Answer 24

Helping form the foundation of Western Philosophy.

Question 25

Where is the Parable of the Cave found? Parable of the Cave

Answer 25

In the Republic.

Question 26

Where is the parable set? Parable of the Cave

Answer 26

In an underground cave.

Question 27

Who have been chained together? Parable of the Cave

Answer 27

Prisoners.

Question 28

What can the prisoners only see? Parable of the Cave

Answer 28

The back of the wall, the shadows of objects.

Question 29

How are the shadows made? Parable of the Cave

Answer 29

There is a fire behind the actual objects, making the shadow.

Question 30

What happens first? Parable of the Cave

Answer 30

The prisoners chains are removed, and he is forced to turn around.

Question 31

Where does he first go? Parable of the Cave

Answer 31

Up a steep path to the entrance of the cave.

Question 32

What is his initial reaction to the sunlight? Parable of the Cave

Answer 32

He finds it painful (his eyes).

Question 32

What happens when his eyes have adjusted? Parable of the Cave

Answer 32

He looks into the sun itself and is pleased.

Question 33

After he returns back to the cave, what do the prisoners think? Parable of the Cave

Answer 33

His journey has been a waste of time.

Question 34

What happens when the ex-prisoner tries to teach them? Parable of the Cave

Answer 34

They try to kill him.

Question 35

'Where prisoners have been chained together.' What do the prisoners represent? Parable of the Cave

Answer 35

Ordinary people; people who are naïve and ignorant.

Question 36

'Where prisoners have been chained together.' What do the chains represent? Parable of the Cave

Answer 36

Until we see The Good, we are not free.

Question 37

'What they see are the shadows of objects'. What do the shadows of objects represent? Parable of the Cave

Answer 37

We are led to believe this is the real world. People see shadows before they start thinking for themselves (5 senses).

Question 38

'He makes his way up a steep path to the entrance of the cave'. What does the word 'steep' represent? Parable of the Cave

Answer 38

The journey is arduous and challenging.

Question 39

'At first his eyes find the sunlight painful.' What does the word 'painful' represent? Parable of the Cave

Answer 39

The journey is hard and uncomfortable, not easy.

Question 40

'He looks into the sun itself.' What does the sun represent? Parable of the Cave

Answer 40

The truth / ultimate reality 'The Good'.

Question 41

'When the ex-prisoner attempts to teach them, they try to kill him.' Why do they try to kill him? Parable of the Cave

Answer 41

The feel threatened, as many people don't want to make that journey, and it has many risks if undertook.

Question 42

When would a journey like this start? Parable of the Cave

Answer 42

When you open your eyes and start thinking for yourself.