Monday, March 19, 2007

1. Socrates asks Glaucon to suppose that one of the prisoners is freed and leaves the cave (p. 242 section 515d). What happens to the prisoner when he gets outside? Why does this happen to the prisoner?
It says that if they were to see the outside world. They would be confused, or maybe evne fascinated. This is because they have been locked up in a cave for so long and havent seen anything except for shadows.

2. Socrates states that the prisoners would try to kill anyone who tries to liberate them and lead them out of the cave (pp. 243 – 244 section 517a). Why would the prisoners kill someone who is trying to lead them outside?
In my opinion, these people have been locked up in a cave for so long, I think that there scared to go and view what's outside. There so used to what they see. It's almost like moving to outerspace and seeing things we've never seen before. They would probably want to kill what they don't recognize.

3. While reading pages 243-244 (section 517) keep in mind that the cave represents the way society actually is, while the sun (visible outside the cave) represents knowledge that could make for a better society. Don’t let the wording confuse you, Socrates sometimes calls the outside “the intelligible region” and associates it with “the divine.”
What is special about “the intelligible region” and why is it important for public servants/political leaders (p. 244 section 517 b and e) ?

Socrates states the divine can only be accomplished by the good. This is important for people, the intelligible people will teach the un educated people and try to see the light of intelligence.

1 comment:

Kit Haggard said...

Nick,

This post is from a really long time ago. We have had a lot of assignments since this.

I agree with everything that you are saying here. I really like what you say in the last part, "Socrates states the divine can only be accomplished by the good." I think that is really true. The word "good" is not like the word "right" or the word "just" there are more set peramiters on what is good, and what is not, and being right, really doesn't come into play. Only the good can do the devine. I think that's really true and really good!

Nice job!
Kit