1. Plato’s Republic The Divided Line and the Allegory of the Cave

2. Let’s get clear on the terminology:
Allegory
A story, poem, or picture that’s used to symbolically represent a message.
Metaphysics
The study of being, existence, reality, etc.
Epistemology
The study of the nature, origin, limits, etc. of human knowledge

3. Divided Line - Prologue
Good, Understanding
Forms of the Good
( Math, Reason)
Particular/Physical Objects
Perception
Images/Representations of Physical Objects

5. The Allegory of the Cave

7. Representation of an Image of a Dog

8. Image/Statue of a Dog

9. Dog

10. The “Form” of “Dogness”

12. Symbolism of the Cave Sun = Form of the Good
Knowledge
Objects in the Outside World = The Forms
Understand. Shadows, Reflections in the Outside World = Mathematical Forms
Belief Statues that Cast Shadows in the Cave = Particular Objects
Sensing/ Shadows on the Wall in the Cave = Images
Imagining