Wednesday 11 th September 2013 Empiricism and rationalism L.O We are learning how Plato’s concept of ‘the cave’ combines both the ideas of empiricism and rationalism.

Our first topic is about Kant But before we get there…we need to look at someone called Plato…. Here is your first philosophical challenge…

Without discussing with anyone answer… 1) How do you know something is real? 2) Describe all the features that make a chair, a chair.

Evidence?

How do you know if something is real? What changes your mind? How much evidence do you need? Can we always rely on our experiences?

Question number two Chair?

Is this still a chair?

conclusions If you based your answers on experiencing the world to gain knowledge, then you base your world on empirical thoughts. You believe in empiricism. If you think we have some form of innate knowledge that comes naturally to us, you base your world on reason. So you are a rationalist. Write down the definitions and then conclude… Which one are you?

Plato Plato has a theory based on something called the form of the good. He explains this concept by using an analogy. He calls it ‘The Cave’ He combines both empiricism and rationalism, however you will see which one he sees as far superior. Firstly though…What is an analogy?

Analogy Analogy is similar to a parable. Jesus taught his disciples parables to put his complicated teachings into real life examples, so they could understand and live by his example. An Analogy is a way for a philosopher to put his complex philosophical argument into a logical story, hoping you will then understand his point. They both use metaphors to make a point and show how their theory/teachings and their made up story are based upon the same concepts to show a clearer understanding.

Plato’s analogy of the cave

Imagine.... Look around what is the world like? Close your eyes Cover your ears What is the world like now? How do you feel? Do we rely too much on our senses??

Watch the following video called Platos Cave:

Can you fill in the correct labels? Fire Shadows cast on the wall Prisoners Diffused light

What features of the cave do you notice? Use this diagram to basically explain his analogy (don’t worry about its meaning yet)

What is this?

conclusions Discuss with the person next to you…. What do you think Plato is trying to tell you from the cave analogy? Remember, it is your opinion, your observations, your ideas…they cannot be wrong! Is his theory based on rationalism or empiricism and why?

There is the world of sense experience (the ‘empirical’ world), where nothing ever stays the same but is always in the process of change. Experience of it gives rise to opinions. Our senses can be fooled. There is also a world which is outside space and time, which is not perceived through the senses, and in which everything is permanent and perfect or Ideal - the realm of the Forms. The empirical world shows only shadows and poor copies of these Forms, and so is less real than the world of the Forms themselves, because the Forms are eternal and immutable (unchanging), the proper objects of knowledge. Based on this… is Plato 1) Deontological and Teleological. Why? 2) Absolutist or relativist? 3) How does this link to ethics?