Monday 9/20: Introduction to Philosophy

To watch or listen to this class, go here.

Read or watch before class:

Crash Course Philosophy, Leonardo De Caprio & the Nature of Reality

2. Plato, Allegory of the Cave (excerpt) from The Republic of Plato

Allegory of the Cave - Excerpt from Plato's Republic.pdf

Prepare or organize before class:

Watch for in Plato: What happens IN the cave after the previously locked person gets unshackled? What adjustments do they go through after LEAVING the cave? What does Plato say about coming BACK down into the cave?

Think about for class: Examine a period in your life when you came to achieve a different view of reality from the one you had before that experience. Connect your own journey (before the experience, the experience, after the experience) to the stages outlined in the Allegory of the Cave

Here are additional resources for further exploration of Plato's Allegory of the Cave:

Annotated copy of reading, breaking it down by section with editorial boxes
A Map illustrating Plato's LINE view of intellectual progress - corresponds to the ascent from the cave (Aristotle is on the right; we'll use this map again soon)
The Outline of what Philosophy is and the questions it asks
A short list of dialogues featuring the trial and death of Socrates - which includes Plato's view of these things

Annotated Allegory of the Cave.pdf

Allegory of Cave Concept Map.pdf

What is Philosophy Map?.pdf

Additional dialogues of Plato - further reading (links to free online sources) for those interested in how Plato thought about the trial and death of Socrates. These are not my favorite translations BUT they are free and easy to access!

Euthyphro - the start of Socrates troubles and how he thinks through challenges levied against him

Apology - Socrates speaks to his own position (written by Plato of course)

Crito - Socrates gets a visitor while in prison

The Phaedo - an account of Socrates last days told in retrospect by an eyewitness (this is the one that wraps everything up best)

Google Classroom