INTRO PHIL Instructor: David Makinster,

PLATO PAPER #1 -- SUMMARY & RECAP, and hopefully helpful information.

You can use whatever format you feel will best show your understanding. Don't make the assignment more complicated than it needs to be. Just answer each part of the essay question.

Plato is addressing the question of why there is a "common prejudice against philosophy."  He draws several analogies, one about learning to navigate a ship, one about a healthy plant, one about dangerous beast, and one about a "bald-header tinker."

Navigator -- is surrounded by people who have learnned the skills necessary to seize power on the ship, but not how to navigate. He, on the other hand, has learned how to navigate but not how to seize power. Those in power think he is a useless star-gazer, since his knowledge doesn't help them in their quest for power. The reckless sailors may even insist there is no art of navigation, since if there were, they would know it. "Anything is useless if you won't use it."  Hence, the common misconception that philosophy is useless.

This analogy pertains to the predicament of anyone who "loves wisdom" and tries to live accordingly in society.  Also, it applies to the soul, in so far as one has the choice to cultivate the "lover of wisdom" in his own soul, or to live life like a reckless sailor. Remember the additional idea of soul as a chariot drawn by three horses - appetite, passion and reason? The idea is similar, to be led by reason (as with the navigator), not jerked around by appetites and passions (as with the reckless sailors).

Also, a person who has all the traits that would enable a sincere life of wisdom -- intelligence, charisma, memory, eloquence, alertness, charm, etc. -- is especially dangerous if he turns those traits toward destructive ends. He is dangerous to himself and to society. Hence, the public conviction that "philosophers" (or those who claim to be philosophers) are dangerous.

Plant -- weeds grow anywhere, whereas a valuablle, hybrid plant requires special care. The same is true of vices and virtues. Without cultivating "love of wisdom," both in society and in our own souls, vices (weeds) will overrun us. It takes effort to learn to navigate through life. Without that effort, we stumble blindly.

Dangerous Beast -- the "trainer" claims to control the beast, but in fact is controlled by the beast. The trainer has merely learned to placate the beast when the beast is growling. Any so-called leader in society who merely panders to common ignorance or prejudice is like the "trainer."  Likewise, we all have a "dangerous beast" in our own souls, and need to learn to train our appetites and passions to be "steered" by reason.

Tinker -- is a wannabe, and a charlatan. Becausee people who have real talent are lured away from pursuit of wisdom by bribes and flattery, the field is wide open for pretenders. This is a swipe at the professional wise men (sophists) who dominate Athenian education, law and politics.  Applied to the soul, the analogy cautions us not to follow impostors, but also cautions us not to become impostors.  If we give the best of our time and energy to the pursuit of bribes and flattery (popularity and wealth), we will do a half-baked job of forming beliefs and values to live by.

Also, remember that brief passage that I said puts a different spin on everything? “You know, my dear Adeimantus, you shouldn’t make such accusations against the common run of men.” Socrates says one shouldn't condemn people for their misconceptions about philosophy, which results from the misbehavior of those who claim to be wise men.  If people understand what philosophy really is, they will begin to see its value.

PLATO PAPERS – GUIDE TO THE ASSIGNMENTS

PRELIMINARIES

• Papers must be legible, but need not be typed. Hand-written papers (including first drafts) should be double-spaced.
• Sorry, but hardcopy is required.
• Make a copy of your paper, and hang onto the copy when you hand in your paper.
• Length does not necessarily predict the grade.

PAPER #1: "The Common Prejudice Against Philosophy" (the analogy of the true navigator)

Explain the analogies (navigator vs. crew vs. captain), the hybrid plant, the dangerous beast, and the bald tinker. How do these illustrate Plato’s ideas about the philosophical life, the prejudice against philosophy, and the differences between the concerns and values of philosophers vs. non-philosophers. How does Plato’s critique apply to both the state and the soul? By the way…define "philosopher." How do you think these ideas can be applied to contemporary society, and to your own life? Feel free to suggest both strengths and weaknesses of these ideas, as you understand them.

PLATO “The Common Prejudice Against Philosophy” & 499e – 500b

PAPER #2: "The Good as the Ultimate Object of Knowledge" (sun/divided line/cave)

Explain the analogies of the Sun, Divided Line, and Cave. Discuss how these analogies comprise a model of Plato’s metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Be sure to explain the concept of universals (cf., Russell, chapters 9 & 10), and the role they play in this model of philosophy. Compare the cave analogy to the Navigator analogy from the first reading. How do you think these ideas can be applied to contemporary society, and to your own life? Feel free to suggest both strengths and weaknesses of these ideas, as you understand them.

PLATO Part VII, #5, #6, and #7 through 518b.