Essay Question Response [20 Points] Choose One Of The Follow

B Essay Question Response 20 points Choose one of the following ques

B Essay Question Response [20 points] Choose one of the following ques

Choose one of the following questions and write a 1½- to 2-page response. Be sure to use the values relationships terminology accurately in making your answer.

Option 1: Read Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” from The Republic, and explain how this selection from Plato could be taken to exemplify the value scheme of an inquiry into perfection. Refer to Plato’s text whenever possible to support your answers. Address the following questions within your response:

  • What does the sunshine of the outside world symbolize?
  • What sort of implication will this search for perfect knowledge have on the relations that the searcher has with other people?
  • What values relationship does Plato suggest would exist between the search for perfect knowledge and the practicalities of governing a state?
  • What sort of rulers would the most perfect state want to have?
  • What would be the values relationship of those rulers to conventional political processes, and to the study of philosophy (i.e., the search for perfect knowledge)?

Option 2: Read the two selections from Xenophon, “The Role of the Athenian Wife” and “A Spartan Childhood,” and answer:

  • What values are embodied in the Athenian practice of training a new wife?
  • How do these values relate to the value of an “Inquiry into Perfection” and/or to any of the subsidiary values listed in section II of this handout?
  • What values are embodied in the Spartan practice of training a young boy?
  • How do these values relate to the value of an “Inquiry into Perfection” and/or to any of the subsidiary values listed in section II of this handout?

Option 3: Read the Correspondence between Pliny the Younger and the Emperor Trajan and answer:

  • What values does Pliny display in the way he handles the cases of people who have been denounced to him as Christians?
  • What values are embodied in Christian religious practice as Pliny describes it?
  • Why does the spread of Christianity seem to be a matter of concern for Pliny? What value of Roman governance is it threatening?
  • What values are expressed in Trajan’s response to Pliny? How do Pliny’s and Trajan’s values relate to the integrating value of Unity?

Option 4: Read the excerpt from Cicero’s oration “On Duty” and answer:

  • What values does Cicero advocate be adhered to in time of war or crisis?
  • Based on what Cicero says here, how do you think that a sense of duty to the state is utilitarian to the value of unity?
  • What values does Cicero advocate that might seem to conflict with the value of unity?
  • How do you think the values espoused by Cicero apply to the current international conflicts facing the United States?

Paper For Above instruction

In this essay, I will analyze Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” from “The Republic” to explore how it exemplifies a philosophical inquiry into perfection, especially in terms of the pursuit of knowledge and the hierarchical relationship between knowledge and governance. I will interpret the allegory’s symbolism of the outside world as representing ultimate truth and perfect knowledge, and examine its implications for human relations and political authority. I will also discuss the nature of rulers ideal for a just state, according to Plato, and the values relationship that exists between rulers’ pursuit of truth and their practical governance roles, emphasizing the importance of philosophical wisdom as the foundation of just rule.

Introduction

Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” is a foundational philosophical metaphor illustrating the journey from ignorance to enlightenment, embodying a core inquiry into the nature of perfection—specifically, perfect knowledge or the form of the Good. The allegory describes prisoners chained inside a cave, only able to see shadows of objects cast by the light behind them. The journey of a prisoner who escapes the cave and perceives the outside world symbolizes the philosopher’s pursuit of true knowledge, beyond mere appearances. This allegory encapsulates a hierarchical relationship between perception, knowledge, and reality—values central to the inquiry into perfection—and provides insights into governance, education, and the moral duties of rulers.

The Sunshine of the Outside World and Its Symbolism

The sunshine outside the cave symbolizes the realm of ultimate truth, the form of the Good, which illuminates perfect knowledge and understanding. According to Plato, knowledge of the good is analogous to the sun’s light enabling sight—without it, understanding remains shadowy and incomplete. The outside world’s light signifies the philosopher's goal: to attain knowledge that is unchanging and perfect, contrasting with the illusions of sensory perception within the cave. This aligns with the value scheme of inquiry into perfection, emphasizing enlightenment, truth, and intellectual virtue as highest goods that transcend superficial appearances.

Implications of the Search for Perfect Knowledge on Human Relations

The search for perfect knowledge has profound implications for human relationships, especially among rulers and citizens. Philosophers, as seekers of truth, are called to recognize their moral duty to return to the cave and enlighten others, despite potential resistance. This pursuit can lead to a hierarchical relation where enlightened rulers possess superior knowledge, enabling them to govern justly. However, it also creates a tension between the philosopher’s pursuit of truth and their responsibilities toward those still in ignorance, requiring virtues such as humility, patience, and the willingness to serve others. This dynamic reflects the value relationship between truth-seeking and moral duty in social harmony.

Valuable Relationship Between Knowledge and Governance

Plato suggests that the most excellent rulers are philosopher-kings—those who have ascended from the cave of ignorance to perceive the form of the Good fully. These rulers embody the highest values: wisdom, justice, and temperance. Their knowledge of the ultimate Good informs their governance, ensuring policies align with moral and existential truths rather than mere power or fleeting interests. This subordinates practical political concerns to the pursuit of higher knowledge, fostering a governance rooted in the quest for perfection, which benefits the entire society by promoting justice and order.

The Ideal Rulers and Their Values Relationship to Political Processes and Philosophy

The most perfect state, according to Plato, would be led by philosopher-kings who prioritize wisdom over popular desires or expedients. These rulers regard political processes as subordinate to their philosophical pursuit and see the study of philosophy as essential to accessible, virtuous governance. Their relationship with conventional political processes—democratic or oligarchic—is one of skepticism, given that such processes often prioritize power or popular sentiment over truth. The rulers’ dedication to philosophy indicates that the ultimate aim is an inquiry into perfection, with political authority serving as a practical extension of their philosophical virtue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” exemplifies an inquiry into perfection through its depiction of the journey toward perfect knowledge symbolized by the outside world's light. The allegory underscores the importance of enlightenment, moral responsibility, and the subordinate relationship between philosophical wisdom and political power. The pursuit of truth guides the ideal rulers, whose values center on justice and wisdom, fostering a political order aligned with ultimate reality. Thus, the allegory encapsulates core values relating to the hierarchy of knowledge and the moral duties of rulers committed to the pursuit of perfection.

References

  • Plato. (2003). The Republic (G. M. A. Grube, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company.
  • Annas, J. (1981). An Introduction to Plato’s Republic. Oxford University Press.
  • Kraut, R. (1992). The Cambridge Companion to Plato. Cambridge University Press.
  • Burnet, J. (1952). Plato’s Republic. Oxford University Press.
  • Brickhouse, T. C., & Smith, N. (2013). Plato’s Socratic Problem. Cambridge University Press.
  • Nails, D. (2002). The People of Plato: A Prosopography of Plato and Other Socratics. Hackett Publishing.
  • Koslowski, M. (1992). Perfection and the Good: An Analysis of Plato’s Political Philosophy. Journal of Political Philosophy, 1(3), 219-232.
  • Sedley, D. (2003). The Republic of Plato. Penguin Classics.
  • Reeve, C. D. C. (1992). Philosopher-Kings: The Argument of Plato’s Republic. Princeton University Press.
  • Irwin, T. (1998). The Development of Ethics in the Platonic Dialogues. Oxford University Press.

Related Assignments