150 words
As an introduction to philosophy and the kinds of things philosophy is concerned with, we are reading and thinking about an excerpt from a famous work by Plato, entitled the Republic. This short excerpt from the Republic is known as the “Allegory of the Cave”. [Note that Plato uses his teacher, Socrates, as the main speaker in the Allegory.] An allegory is a story that is told in order to make point, or to teach an idea or concept. In this allegory, Socrates asks Glaucon, the person he is speaking with in the Allegory, to imagine a strange scene that takes place in a cave. Important: Note that Socrates tells Glaucon “they are like us” (speaking of the prisoners in the “Allegory”.) Do you agree?
Read the “Allegory” and then discuss the following in your posts:
(Your initial posts do not need to address all of the specific questions below, but they should direction on the kinds of things to discuss.)
1. What do you think the point of the “Allegory of the Cave” is? In other words, what do you think Plato trying to tell us?
2. What is Plato saying about what the essence of education is? Does it require taking classes as in a formal education? Can a formal education help?
3. What do the shadows on the wall represent?
4. Do you think most people are in a “cave” as Plato suggests?
5. Do you think the “Allegory of the Cave” is relevant to us today? If so, how? In what way?
All posts should be no less than six substantive sentences written using college level English.
These postings should be no less than six complete substantive sentences, again using college level English. Six sentences saying that you agree or disagree with the person does not qualify; be sure to tell why you agree or disagree, or just offer a different perspective and add something to the conversation