The Allegory of the Cave and From Metaphors We Live By Class #2

The Allegory of the Cave How do you best learn –When something is new to you? –When you have experience in something? How does this relate to trying to see when the sunlight is new and somewhat blinding?

The Allegory of the Cave - cont Define education from Plato’s standpoint Tell me about education in the USA at this moment… How does it relate to Plato’s definition of education?

The Allegory of the Cave - expanded What is the truth and how do we define it? –Is it the first thing that you see? –Is it what someone you trust tells you? –When must you experience the truth? Relate Plato’s scenario to your own life through an example. Try to stay positive.

Metaphors We Live By How often do you use metaphors and when? When – name some - –Relationships – sweet person –Class – deep learning –Arguing – strong argument; rough

What types of metaphors do you use? Sports- “Touchdown” War- “Destroyed” Depth- “Shallow” Plants- “Root of the problem” or “Stem from” Travel – “Path” or “road” or “out of gas” or “lets not go there” Do your metaphors explain parts of your personality? Do they show what you want to do or not want to do? How?

Synthesize these readings What metaphors stood out in Plato’s work? –“their souls are always pressing upwards, eager to spend their time above, for after all, this is surely what we’d expect, if indeed things fit the image I described before” (Plato, 5). –“Then education is the craft concerned with doing this very thing, this turning around, and with how the soul can most easily and effectively be made to do it.” Pay attention to metaphors used around and particularly the ones you assert into conversations. They may indicate more about you than realize.

References Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. “Metaphors We Live By.” Human Experience I: Who Am I?. Ed. Alice Burmeister and Kathy Lyon. 6th ed. Littleton, MA: Tapestry, Plato. “Book VII: The Allegory of the Cave.”Human Experience I: Who Am I?. Ed. Alice Burmeister and Kathy Lyon. 6 th ed. Littleton, MA: Tapestry,