Phil. 231 Handout 10 Book 7

I. 514a-517d: The Simile of the Cave

  1. Relationship between the Cave and the similies of the Divided Line and the Sun.

    2. 1. Shadows on walls = images

    2. Objects that make shadows = sensible objects

    3. Objects outside of the cave = Forms

    4. Sun outside of the cave = Form of the Good.
     

  2. 517a-519d Rulers must be trained to see the Good and then return to the cave to rule.
      1. Importance of habit and education: unlike the virtue of intelligence, other virtues are acquired through practice.
      2. Use and Abuse of intelligence: it can be directed toward sensible objects or to the Forms [see the description of the Oligarchic individual in Book XIII.
II. 521ff: Training of the Philosopher Ruler
A. Subjects
1. Arithmetic
2. Plane Geometry
3. Solid Geometry
4. Astronomy
5. Harmony
6. Dialectic
B. Structure of the training:
      1. Children: learn arithmetic and geometry through play.
      2. Late teens: Physical Training exclusively.
      3. Twenty: Those selected to be future rulers get special training.
      4. Thirty: Those who pass the tests will go on to study dialectic.
      5. Thirty-Five: Become rulers in matters of war and the young. They are tested for 15 years.
      6. Fifty: They are led to a knowledge of the Good. They will spend some time in philosophical reflection and some ruling. They will rule using the Good as a paradigm for good in the city.
III. 540d- 541b: The City is Possible Indeed.
    1. It must be ruled by a Philosopher who regards Justice as more important than honor.
    2. The quickest way to establish the city is to begin with a Philosopher together with children no older than ten.
 

Further Notes on the Form of the Good in relation to other Forms

  1. Good as Function: To know what x is really is to know what the function or good of x is. Thus, to know what a knife is involves understanding the function of the knife or what the knife is good for. So, understanding any Form involves indirect acquaintance with the Form of the Good.
  2. Good as Example: The Form of F is unqualifiedly F. That is, it is a good, indeed a perfect, example of F. E.g., the form of the Beautiful is itself perfectly beautiful and is thus a good example of beauty.
  3. Good as Relation: Good is a relation between an object and the Form of the object. The more the object approximates the Form of which it is a copy, the better the object is. Thus, the more like the Ideal Knife an ordinary knife is, the better the knife is.