Similie of the Cave Reading Questions

UE THUR, 3/15 Similie of the Cave Reading Questions
Reading Questions
Plato. “The Simile of the Cave.” The Republic.


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?

The prisoner can’t look up because he is so used to being in the cave with no light. Socrates and Glaucon said it would be the easiest for the prisoner to see shadows because that is what he was used to seeing. Then he will move up to being able to see the reflections of himself and other people in the water. After he would be able to see the actual objects. The prisoner would move up slowly to see the actual objects and be able to live like the normal people. Then he would be able to look at the sun itself without blinking.

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?

The prisoners are happy with the way they are. They don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want to realize that what they thought was the truth is a lie. So the prisoners didn’t want to be led out of the cave in fear that they didn’t know anything else other then pointing at the shadows and knowing what they were.

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)?

It is very important for the higher power because that is how they control the prisoners or the people below them. Because without it it would give the prisoners and people below the higher power room to think for themselves.

4. What is wrong with having uneducated people run society? What is wrong with having intellectuals (i.e. well-educated people) run society (p. 323 section 519c)?

Socrates says that things will never be properly governed if the uneducated dictact. The reason being that they would have no clue what to do or say. Because they are uneducated they need directing in everything they do.And Socrates says the problem with having intellectuals govern would be that they know many things. So they would think they were godly and just want everyone to serve beneath them. And the people would be too controlled.

5. On pp. 323 – 324 (section 519 section d – section 520) Socrates tells Glaucon what the "job" of a lawmaker is. What is the job of a lawmaker and how is a lawmaker supposed to influence the best minds?

What the law makers do is they listen to Socrates and Glaucon tell them about what is good and what is bad. They then take that and they spread to the people what they heard about the good and bad, which controlls them even more.