1. ANCIENT GREEK INFLUENCES ON PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION: PLATO
By the end you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of what might be represented in the Analogy of the Cave by the following:
the prisoners
the shadows
the cave itself
the outside world
the sun
the journey out of the cave
the return to the prisoners
You should understand what Plato meant by ‘Forms’ and be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
the relation between concepts and phenomena;
the concept of ‘ideals’
the relation between the Form of the Good and the other forms
You should also be able to discuss critically the validity of the points being made.
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2. Homework - Due next week
Explain Plato’s Analogy of the Cave. (25 marks)
This is an AO1 question wanting to see your KNOWLEDGE not criticisms.
Explain things in detail with examples/evidence.
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3. Today’s key questions…
Who was Plato?
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Learning Objectives:
D: Describe who Plato was and his influence on philosophy.
C: Describe Plato’s Analogy of the Cave.
B: Explain Plato’s Analogy of the Cave.
A: Assess the claims made by Plato’s analogy.
Today’s key questions…
Who was Plato?
How did Plato view the world?
Students to complete the biography sheet as the lesson unfolds.
Plato
429BC-347BC
Theaetetus

4. Who’s who of Ancient Greek Philosophy
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5. PRE-SOCRATIC TRADITION – the nature of reality. What ‘stuff’ is eternal? FIRE, AIR, SPIRIT, EARTH and WATER – all very popular with the pre-socratics!

6. We only study Plato and Aristotle.
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7. Pre-existing Matter
Something has always existed! Matter, in the universe in some form, is in some form eternal. Has no beginning.
The opposite of ‘creatio ex nihilo’ (the idea that at one time there was nothing and God brought EVERYTHING in to existence.
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8. ? ? ? ? ?
Socrates would often ask people what they believed made something ‘x'. For example, what makes a good citizen or just city etc. It became apparent to Socrates (although we only have Plato's word for this) that there were concepts that existed independently of us human beings as any answers to the ‘What is it?' questions (What is it that makes something beautiful? What is it that makes a good citizen or just city? Etc) were only ever partial explanations and so therefore begged the question. Plato continues in this tradition but with one further addition. This can be seen in the pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus. ? ?
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9. “Something is no more ‘X’ than it is ‘Y’”
Let us imagine that you have a very tall student and a very short student. You bring them up to the front of the class and ask them if they think they are ‘short' or ‘tall'. If they rely ‘short' or ‘tall' ask them to think of as many examples of where they would be considered ‘taller' or ‘shorter' than other things. The answer is that it doesn't make sense to say they are ‘short' (X) when there are literally millions of examples where they might be considered ‘taller' (Y) than these things. But equally it makes very little sense to then conclude that they are in fact ‘tall' (Y) when they are just as many examples of where they are ‘shorter' (X) than things. This is the doctrine of Heracliteanism: "Something is no more ‘X' than it is ‘Y'."
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10. “You can never step in the same river twice”
Heraclitus
“You can never step in the same river twice”
Plato wants to understand the world through reason. He is searching for Truth (as his teacher before him). But he cannot accept that Truth could change. The physical world as he understood it could not provide this Truth for a number of reasons. Firstly it was in a state of constant flux and so any truth found in this realm would be subject to change. So because of he views on the usefulness of matter in the discovery of truth, he labels matter as inherently evil which causes him to distrust the physical realm. Secondly he believes that we cannot find the answers to what makes something ‘X' or ‘Y' in this realm because we can only ever find partial explanations according to Socrates (hence the Socratic forms) but more importantly because something is no more ‘X' than it is ‘Y'. It is this doctrine of Heracliteanism that can really unlock Plato's ideas by making his thought process much clearer.
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11. True knowledge cannot exists in a world which is in a state of flux – The world is continually changing. True knowledge can not be found here!
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12. Who was Plato?
Who was Plato -

13. Plato never devotes a specific book to giving a definitive account of his theory!!
The theory of the Forms is more of an evolving theory referred to in several dialogues.
Plato gives the impression that the ideas have been in discussion outside the books themselves (maybe amongst his contemporaries at The Academy).
Therefore his own writing contains critiques of his theory.
THE REPUBLIC is Plato’s most famous work, it contains the allegory of the cave AND IS THE ONE MENTIONED ON THE OCR syllabus.

14. A DUALIST… AN ABSOLUTIST… A RATIONALIST…
Plato believed that the soul and the body are two separate entities.
He also believed that there existed a world beyond this one.
Dualism is the belief in two distinct principles/having two parts.
Objective truths exists – universal, unchanging in all circumstances.
Things are either intrinsically right or wrong.
Plato’s World view – key words to know and use!
The belief that knowledge is based on the use of REASON.
Reality has a logical structure that we can ‘work out’ using our reason.

15. Philosophical Knowledge and Reasoning
A priori – a statement which is knowable without any reference to any experience (before/prior to experience)
e.g. mathematics 5+7=12
A posteriori – a state which is knowable only after experience
e.g. my front door is green
Based on the words we have used to describe Plato on slide 12, would Plato favour A priori or A posteriori knowledge?
ANSWER: A priori!
ADD TO GLOSSARY PAGE 3!
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16. Plato’s Allegory of the cave…
An Allegory…
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning and can be used to represent or symbolise ideas and concepts
Plato’s Allegory of the cave…
Symbolises his theory of the Forms.
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17. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Students to make notes on the events of the cave

18. EXPLAIN do not just DESCRIBE!

19. TASK…
Two pens, two different colours One = what happened (DESCRIBE) Two = what does it mean (EXPLAIN)
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20. Plato’s Aims
To show the contrast between the Realm of the Forms and the Realm of Appearances
To explain a philosophers search for knowledge
To show the ignorance of humanity – the reliance on the senses and the feelings of hostilities towards philosophical ideas
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21. Homework Write the released prisoner’s blog. Points to include are:
His fears as he reaches the cave entrance
The pain and difficulties he experiences with his eyes
His initial observations and thoughts
His conclusion a few days later about the sun’s effect on life
The reason he decides to return to the cave
His reaction to the return
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22. What is real? How do you define what is real?
Would you rather take the pill like Neo and learn the truth no matter how difficult that truth is? Or would you rather be content with the reality you have? Why?
What decision do you think a philosopher would make? Why?
Can you see any links to Plato’s Analogy of the Cave?