Plato's Theory of Forms, and the Sun, Line and Cave

Some powerpoint slides introducing students to an overall picture of Plato's philosophical position. Includes analogy with the Matrix to instigate thinking on appearance & reality plus graphical/video representations of the similes of the Sun, Line and Cave.

1. Plato’s Theory of Forms, and the Sun, Line and Cave A falasafaz ! presentation 1

2. Plato What is justice? What is the ideal state? What is the human soul? What is knowledge? What is reality? 2

3. Understanding Plato How does Plato understand the nature of reality? What is the relationship between existence, knowledge, and virtue? How successful are Plato’s Sun, Line & Cave similes? 3

4. Plato’s overall position Metaphysics (Reality) Epistemology (Knowledge) Ethics (Good) THE THEORY OF FORMS 4

5. What is real? 5 Reality Appearance Sensations Empirically observable data Particular examples of ‘X’ Beyond senses Mind/reason ‘The Forms’ ‘The X-in-itself’

6. The Forms 6 Particular beautiful things Beauty-Itself

7. The Similes/Allegories 7 The Sun Republic Bk VI 507a The Divided Line Republic Bk VI 509d The Cave Republic Bk VII 514a

8. The Sun 8 Source The Sun The (Form of the) Good Provides what? Light, growth Reality, truth – ‘light of reason’ Where? Sensible world Intelligible World In order to… See Know With what? Objects i.e. ‘particulars’ Forms

9. The Divided Line 9 Objects Epistemic States Forms Physical Objects Shadows / Images Dialectic Belief A B C D Mathematical Reasoning Illusion Intelligible Realm Visible Realm KNOWLEDGE OPINION

10. The Cave 10

11. Evaluating Plato What are the similes meant to achieve? How successful are they? What are Plato’s arguments? How persuasive are they? What objections can we identify and develop? 11

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