• Elenchus - if you think a certain thing is correct then you are obligated to another belief⁃ If you believe in this, you must believe in this⁃ ideas can not be in opposition with eachother• Socrates believed he didn't know anything⁃ turned people into skeptics⁃ was condemned to death for making people question themselves⁃ had the chance to run away but didn't because he believed that if he the community believed he needed to die, then he should⁃ "The unexamined life is not worth living"⁃ questioned himself as much as he did of others⁃ to be the wisest of all is to know that you know nothing• eudaimonia (spiritual):⁃ happiness⁃ internal well being⁃ best state of being• dikaiosune (different definitions):⁃ morality⁃ justice⁃ well being in accordance to your own nature• arete - virtue⁃ the excellence of the soul⁃ functioning well in certain respects• logos - reason• eidos - form⁃ counterpoint to empiricism⁃ experiencing things through our senses⁃ plato is against this•The Republic⁃long dialogue⁃ 10 books (possibly scrolls)• The reading of Plato Part I: objects⁃ I fixed to a wall in a cave⁃ fixed in a certain position⁃ is to look at the machinery and fire⁃ There's a fire behind them⁃ They see shadows of objects (artifacts) that are carried in front of the fire⁃ hears echos• The reading of Plato Part II: fire⁃ machinery⁃ look at the fire (in the cave)⁃ forcefully driven up out of the cave to the outside⁃ entire experience is not good⁃ its nice to sit somewhere and not be forcefully driven somewhere⁃ was looking at the source of light (source of understanding)⁃ first blinded by not enough light (cave), then he is blinded by too much light (sun)• The reading of Plato Part III: sun⁃ outside⁃ he is blinded by the light of the sun because its too bright⁃ looks at objects⁃ first looks at the reflections of things, and then sees the objects⁃ understanding?⁃ becomes capable of looking at the sun• The reading of Plato Part IV:⁃ put back in the cave⁃ told to tell what the objects are⁃ no one believes him- rejection⁃ he has no proof⁃ he can barely see the objects on the wall (shadows)⁃ he behaves "stupid"⁃ recognizing very small details⁃ who ever is able to see the details (shadows) - is the wisest• WE are in the cave - symbolizes the world• Chains are symbolized as the way we think⁃ Chained by prejudice and beliefs⁃ Chains = attachment to the material world⁃ Our ultimate attachment to this world is having a body⁃ Having a body detains us• The shadows of objects represent the things we never questions⁃ what we consider as facts and never consider⁃ unquestioned perceptions of objects⁃ we are three times removed from reality⁃ have never questioned objects around us• Educators destroy the shackles and force you out of the cave, even though it may be uncomfortable• Fire = shallow source of understanding, has its source in the sun = real understanding• Plato was forced outside by socrates • Once you see the truth you will face