Books VI-VII

Here are yet more questions for you to think about (again, these are all just meant as jumping-off points for a wide-ranging discussion).

Socrates gives us three images in books VI and VII: the image of the sun and the good, the image of the divided line, and the image of the cave. What are these images meant to each us? What is Socrates trying to say to us about how we know things? What is he trying to say to us about how we live in society? What is he trying to tell us about politics?

If you want to, make a diagram of the way the three images relate to each other, and upload it with your post.

ANSWER

Books VI-VII

The Three Images

Socrates relied on the image of the sun, the divided line, and the myth of the care to explain theoretical forms that seek to explain why things ate the way they are as well as bring life to his arguments. Socrates compared the good with the sun where he explains that the form of good is not always considered to be good. The analogy of the sun is the first in the string of the three most densely interrelated and famous metaphors. Socrates explains that the sun is a visible realm that is linked to the Good which is an intelligible realm in different respects. As the sun is responsible for the visibility of things and causing things to exist the same way is the good is responsible for the existence of forms.

The image of reality shows that reality is divided into two fundamental sections which include the invisible unchanging realm and the ever-changing visible real of tangible items. Socrates attempted to view the world in varying states of mind. The visible world exists through senses while the intelligible world exists through intellect and capability.

In the analogy of the cave, Socrates has explained that philosophers are like prisoners who have been freed and comes to comprehend that the shadows they see on the wall are not reality. This means that people should question everything to understand reality since not everything is the way one finds it to be.

How We Know Things

Socrates believes that people tend to know things through knowledge. Notably, knowledge is important in life since it enables an individual to know and understand things better. Socrates argues that learning, question, and testing answers against arguments and facts contribute to better knowledge and understanding. Therefore, one should seek knowledge and wisdom before personal interests.

How We Live in The Society

Socrates believes that we live in society through virtue which entails understanding what is good to do what is good. Socrates greatly focuses on cultivating virtue since it is a necessary quality for individual happiness and well-being. Virtue will lead to better understanding, communication, and acceptance among each other.

Politics

Socrates emphasizes the need for people to understand the art of political ethics since they make proper and good citizens. According to Socrates politics and ethics are closely linked to each other. Without ethics, politics is harmful to the people, and without politics ethics has no value to the citizens and public officials. Socrates teaches that justice is the root of law and should be given priority.