6. Socrates

1. Pick one of the quotes from Socrates (“The Words of Socrates”) and agree or disagree: question Socrates!

“Wisdom begins in wonder.” –Socrates

I agree with Socrates because I as well think wisdom begins in wonder. If you have wisdom you must think about it. You wonder in order to have wisdom. You think if you are right about your wisdom and that leads to wondering. Wondering if your correct or wrong, and eventually it is proven correct or incorrect. So I agree with Socrates, wisdom begins in wonder.

2. Go to www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/PLATO.htm. Read Plato’s definition of the “Nature of Justice” and the “Ideal Republic.” What is justice to Plato?

Plato’s defines justice as whatever the strongest decide it is, and that the strong decide that whatever is in their best interest is just it. In other words, justice is the best thing for a person to know. I think Plato is explaining is that we have our different opinions and we all know what is best for ourselves.


3. What do you think about Plato’s ideal republic (What are positive elements of it? Negative?)?

I think about Plato’s ideal republic is basically dividing people into groups in which they are best at. Part of me thinks it’s somewhat unfair and then it’s not. Plato is dividing people into about three groups: people who are not overly bright, or strong, or brave, are suited in farming, smithing, building, etc. People who are somewhat bright, strong, and especially courageous are suited to defensive and policing professions. People who are extraordinarily intelligent, virtuous, and brave, are suited to run the state itself. The positive facts about this, is that the people who are intelligent do the best at their job, while those who aren’t as intelligent do what they do best. Though, for people who aren’t as bright, might feel upset or judge because of their intelligence and that would be a negative.

4. What is your vision of an ideal state or republic?

My vision of an ideal state or republic that when Plato put people into groups, like what people are best based on their strengths. Is a good idea to me because if we had a not so bright or strong person ruling our government, it wouldn’t be as strong as someone who is very intelligent and much stronger. It’s basically the facts of life. I don’t considering it judging someone but we all want what is best for our economy.

5. The Allegory of the Cave argues that the only thing standing in the way of knowledge is our knowledge insistence that the visual universe is reality. What does this mean?

I think it means that the visual universe is a lot better in reality because we can see and learn for ourselves, and understand the truth. In many situations, we think that something is what it seems, when eventually we find out that it isn’t. Now if everything were based upon intelligible, we would believe anything and everything that someone had told us. If people don’t visualize, that will not help us from learning in what is correct. Visual is helping us everyday. Without it, we wouldn’t know what was right from wrong, and everything would collapse in its own way. So I think the visual universe is the best.