The Allegory of the CaveThe Allegory of the Cave

PlatoPlato

Round RobinRound Robin

1.1. Take a minute and go back through the Take a minute and go back through the text. If you haven’t underlined passages text. If you haven’t underlined passages go back through and do so. If you have go back through and do so. If you have already, then go back through and find already, then go back through and find something you underlined and ask something you underlined and ask yourself: Why did I underlines this? What yourself: Why did I underlines this? What is the importance of it? is the importance of it?

2.2. In groups number off who will speak first In groups number off who will speak first and then proceed as follows: and then proceed as follows:

a.a. First person reads the passageFirst person reads the passage

b.b. Next person says what this passage Next person says what this passage means, or makes them think of. This means, or makes them think of. This continues until it reaches the first person continues until it reaches the first person again. again.

c.c. The first person who read the passage The first person who read the passage has the FINAL WORD. has the FINAL WORD.

NO CROSS TALK. NO CROSS TALK.

Rhetoric and Style Rhetoric and Style

What does the speaker identify as his purpose?What does the speaker identify as his purpose?

Explain the analogy the speakers makes?Explain the analogy the speakers makes?

Characterize the tone of Socrates, the principal Characterize the tone of Socrates, the principal speaker. speaker.

Characterize the attitude and tone of Characterize the attitude and tone of Glaucon.Glaucon.

Explain the implication the speaker makes Explain the implication the speaker makes about the way humans live. Does such a about the way humans live. Does such a characterization apply to life today?characterization apply to life today?

Socrates explains the allegory he has thus Socrates explains the allegory he has thus far made. How persuasive is he?far made. How persuasive is he?

In paragraphs 1-35, does the speaker In paragraphs 1-35, does the speaker appeal primarily to ethos, logos, or appeal primarily to ethos, logos, or pathos? Explain.pathos? Explain.

In the second half of the essay In the second half of the essay (paragraphs 36-68), identify an appeal to (paragraphs 36-68), identify an appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos. Which is most ethos, logos, and pathos. Which is most prominent? prominent?

What does the Cave stand for in Plato’s What does the Cave stand for in Plato’s allegory? Make a list of the elements in allegory? Make a list of the elements in the allegory—chains, light, darkness, and the allegory—chains, light, darkness, and so on—explain what they present. so on—explain what they present.

Characterize the education Characterize the education recommended.recommended.

Explain the reasoning behind Explain the reasoning behind Glaucon’s questioning.Glaucon’s questioning.

Identify the place where the Identify the place where the argument shifts from fact and argument shifts from fact and value to policy.value to policy.

Consider the assumptions Consider the assumptions underlying Glacuson’s reply. Are underlying Glacuson’s reply. Are they sound?they sound?

Compare and contrast Plato’s Compare and contrast Plato’s Argument on leadership to Argument on leadership to Machiavelli's. Machiavelli's.

The cave is an allegory for everyday The cave is an allegory for everyday reality. Who are the prisoners?reality. Who are the prisoners?

What kinds of activities do the prisoners What kinds of activities do the prisoners engage in? How does this compare to our engage in? How does this compare to our present experiences with popular present experiences with popular imagery?imagery?

Plato describes the process of the prisoner Plato describes the process of the prisoner being liberated from the chains. Is this a being liberated from the chains. Is this a voluntary liberation?voluntary liberation?

Who helps the prisoner make sense of Who helps the prisoner make sense of realities both in and outside the cave?realities both in and outside the cave?

What is the experience of release like for What is the experience of release like for the prisoner? Can he immediately interpret the prisoner? Can he immediately interpret the new images and realities? Why or why the new images and realities? Why or why not?not?

Why does the prisoner have to return to Why does the prisoner have to return to the cave? Since we have established that the cave? Since we have established that the remaining prisoners will not welcome the remaining prisoners will not welcome his return, why should we send this his return, why should we send this liberated prisoner back?liberated prisoner back?

We have two very different models of education: We have two very different models of education: blank slate information delivery (i.e., the blank slate information delivery (i.e., the prisoners in the cave who learn the names of the prisoners in the cave who learn the names of the shadows through repetition) and the discovery shadows through repetition) and the discovery process in which the prisoner is forced to process in which the prisoner is forced to experience and explore realities outside of his experience and explore realities outside of his comfort zone. Is one method better than the comfort zone. Is one method better than the other? If so, why?other? If so, why?

How might the arts benefit from an audience that How might the arts benefit from an audience that has been educated through the process of has been educated through the process of discovery? Do the arts require an active discovery? Do the arts require an active engagement to learn and understand?engagement to learn and understand?

Group WorkGroup Work

An allegory is a kind of story in which what An allegory is a kind of story in which what happens is being compared to something happens is being compared to something else that is similar and unstated. else that is similar and unstated.

Your task as a group is to come up with a Your task as a group is to come up with a modern allegory that would be an allusion modern allegory that would be an allusion to “The Modern of the Cave,” but is related to “The Modern of the Cave,” but is related to issues of modern society. to issues of modern society.

Extra CreditExtra Credit

1.1. Create your own modern allegory. (1-2 Create your own modern allegory. (1-2 pages)pages)

2.2. Illustrate in some fashion Plato’s Illustrate in some fashion Plato’s philosophy that is represented in “The philosophy that is represented in “The Allegory of the Cave.”Allegory of the Cave.”