1. To the Cave HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2013 Dr. Perdigao
September 30-October 7, 2013

2. Some Forms
Sophists—“men of wisdom,” teaching from city to city rhetoric, grammar, poetry, gymnastics, mathematics, and music; political and ethical concerns, secular education; teaching “political arêté,” “the skill to formulate the right laws and policies for cities and the art of eloquence and persuasion needed for success in public life” (78)
Socrates ( BCE)
Socratic thought as counter to system
Aristophanes—critic of both Socrates and Sophists
Socrates—born about 10 years after Persian Wars, executed 5 years after the end of the Peloponnesian War (Perry 79)
Plato ( BCE): astronomy, mathematics, political philosophy, metaphysics, ethics
Forms/Ideas vs. relativism of Sophists
Plato—founded the Academy, history of philosophical tradition—in dialogue/dialectic model

3. The Charges Thirty Tyrants
Persecution and execution of Socrates because of his follower Critias (one of Thirty’s leaders)
Impiety
501 male citizens
Death vs. exile

4. The Stance
Apology as defense: “So, men of Athens, I’m far from pleading in my own defense now, as might be supposed. Instead, I’m pleading in yours, so that you don’t commit a great wrong against the god’s gift to you by condemning me” (770)
Gadfly that “awakens, cajoles, and reproaches” (770)
Achilles’ example (768): “You see, fearing death, gentlemen, is nothing other than thinking one is wise when one isn’t, since it’s thinking one knows what one doesn’t know” (769).
“it’s the greatest good for a man to discuss virtues every day on the grounds that the unexamined life isn’t worth living for a human being” (776).
Orpheus, Homer, Ajax, Odysseus, Sisyphus—following those examples, like Odysseus

5. Republic as “true apology”
From Alan Bloom’s “Interpretive Essay”:
“The Republic shows us why Socrates was accused and why there was good reason to accuse him. Not only does he tell us about the good regime, but we see his effect on the young men he was said to have corrupted. Socrates, in leading them to a justice which is not Athenian, or even Greek, but is rather human, precisely because it is rational, shows the way to the truth about political things and develops the extremely complex relationship of that truth to civil society. These questions are most relevant to modern man, although they are perhaps harder for him to understand than for men of any previous generation For these reasons it behooves us to study the Republic. For it is the first book which brings philosophy ‘down into the cities’; and we watch in it the foundation of political science, the only discipline which can bring the blessings of reason to the city.” (310)

6. Paradoxical Understandings
Rise to epistemology (how we know what we know)
Meno’s paradox: if you know, then why ask questions but how do you know to ask questions if you do not know?
Translation: You need to know what you are looking for to find it and, if you don’t know what you are looking for, there is no need to search for it. So how do we come to know anything?
Function of justice, based on rules and fear
Glaucon (Plato’s brother), Adaimantus (Plato’s brother)
Glaucon’s social contract: desire to do unjust things but fear others will do injustice—we act just through fear; problem with democracy

7. The Just City Laws are lies, only the appearance of justice
City of speech—goal to tell beneficial lies; gold, silver, bronze races lead to classes; if we come from the earth, then we are more loyal to earth and city
Virtues in The Republic:
Wisdom (rulers know good for city and act in those interests)
Courage (guardians do what they must)
Moderation (all groups in city, their relationships; agreement of ruler and those to be ruled, in natural harmony—craftsman is ruler of the shoe, knowledge=what everyone strives to rule)
Justice (be just, then moderation will flow from it)

8. Hierarchy of the City, the Self
Philosopher knows self but lies to others
Aristophanes’ Clouds shows Socrates worshipping them but clouds side with gods, teach him how to be politically savvy
Sun=nature; Good=light of the sun
Rulers: Reason
Guardians: Thumos
Craftsmen: Eros
Question if philosophers corrupt the city, intelligence for selves or others—for sake of city

9. Divisions Sun is truth and reality
Divided line—Sun: light and power of the sun/world of sight and things seen
From belief to knowledge:
images: objects: thought-images: ideas or ideals
belief: mathematical thought: dialectical thought
the changing world of the senses: understanding: exercise of reason
Ideal is in the realm of Good—the Real (in The Allegory of the Cave):
Come to know ideals and act accordingly in the world
As pure concept, compared to imitations
Literature as second order imitation