2. How Powerful is Plato’s Influence according to Alfred North Whitehead “all philosophy is nothing more than a footnote to Plato.” Plato was a student of Socrates, gained a passion for philosophy After Socrates’ death, Plato set up his Academy Knowledge is developed & refined through discourse and questioning Unlike Socrates, Plato documented his ideas

3. The Analogy (Allegory/Myth) of the Cave (Sproule p.75-76)

4. Plato believed Most of us have only partial and unclear knowledge Human beings could attain true knowledge In the existence of a single moral truth (like Socrates) In the existence of a single connected truth about everything in the universe Knowledge divided in two categories

5. Plato’s Two Categories of Knowledge Of Visible World Of The Real Ideal World Achieved via senses Subject to change Based on opinion Of less value The world of experience includes what we imagine or believe might be true “objects” of this world are images Achieved via rational thought Permanent Based on reality/ BEING The greater truth Lower form of knowledge from mind is world of thinking (induction) Highest form of knowledge: that of “The Good” how all things are connected

6. A person who knows The Good Doesn’t rely on the imperfect visible world for information All knowledge is acquired through the working of the mind Therefore, Plato is a RATIONALIST, since it is through reason and not the senses that we acquire the highest knowledge and wisdom. Read “Plato’s Theory of Form & Change” p. 79-80 and “Plato’s Theory of Aquiring Knowledge” p. 80