Philosophy Final Exam Study Guide:Straighterline Philosophy Final
Exam Study Guide: Questions & Answers
What is the ultimate significance of each part of the story of the cave, that is, what does each part of the
story tell us about the pursuit of philosophical knowledge? - ANSWER:The world of our sight is like
habitation in prison, the fire light there to the sunlight outside the cave, the ascent and view of the
upper world is the rising of the soul into the world of mind.
1) People in Cave:
-Imagination & beliefs
-Prisoners talk to each other; their reality is made up of shadows and echos
-Prisoners have limited knowledge; this reality is all they know
2) Outside:
-Reality, Real World
-New things & environment (thinking-reasoning)
-Struggle for more knowledge
-able to ascend to the world of the mind and ideas, once one grasps the form of the good-knowledge is
holistic; achieved once you understand everything/anything
-turn your attention to a new source to pursue (prisoner freed from outsider)
3) Prisoner returns to Cave
-attempts to get others to come
-Represents lack of pursuit/wanting of education (prisoners)
-Freed prisoners death is the death of knowledge
Why are those in the cave prisoners? - ANSWER:These people grew up in the cave with their necks and
legs restrained not allowing them to move forcing them to only look forward at shadows on the wall.
What are they chained (what do their chains represent)? - ANSWER:We are attached to our bodies and
our bodies are a distraction and distortion so we can't see the truth. Anything that keeps the individual
from being able to learn.
What is the significance of the shadows and echoes? - ANSWER:-False truths; illusion of reality
,-Prisoners have only seen shadows in their life, no real objects
-They see the shadow of their reality and they don't know any better
Echos:
-words/sounds/echos from prisoners own voices
-believe the shadows are talking
How does one prisoner get free? - ANSWER:An outsider comes and frees a prisoner and drags them out
of the cave.
What does the rough ascent represent? - ANSWER:Process of letting go of old beliefs and starting to
accept new ones. (Some resistance because we don't want to accept new beliefs at first)
Why must the person be helped up the ascent by another? - ANSWER:Because they wouldn't be able to
climb it themselves because the light is too bright and they would want to go back into the cave.
What is their first impression of the outside world? Why? - ANSWER:The brilliance of the light would fill
his eyes and he wouldn't be able to see any real things because he isn't used to the light.
What happens over time? - ANSWER:He would look at shadows, then images of mankind and the rest in
water, last the things themselves. From there he would find it easier to survey by night to look at stars,
moon, etc. and during the day he can see the sun.
What is their later attitude toward their life in the cave? - ANSWER:The person is greatful to be out of the
cave but he has second thoughts because he wants to let the others know.
Why do they go back in the cave? - ANSWER:Because the prisoner wants to tell the ones still in the cave
to go see the outside world.
What happens when they go back? - ANSWER:The prisoners still in the cave think he is crazy because he
sounds crazy and cannot identify the shadows on the wall. So the prisoners tell him to leave and that if
he tries to take them they will resist with force.
What is Thrasymachos' claim regarding "justice"? - ANSWER:Justice is whatever suits the stronger best.
Might is right. A ruler is always just.
How does Socrates challenge the position of Thrasymachos? - ANSWER:Rulers sometimes make
mistakes, and order subjects to do something which is really not to his advantage at all.
How does each of them describe the goal of a ruler? - ANSWER:Thrasymachos:
-Ruler commands, subjects obey; shepherds to sheep
-look out for own good
-God's do not enforce justice
-"might makes right"
, -creates laws-own advantage (power, riches, wealth)
Socrates:
-Rulers benefit their subjects
-Pilot to sailors
-Physician to patent
Can Thrasymachos defend his claims about justice from the criticisms of Socrates? -
ANSWER:Thrasymachos responds to Socrates that he isn't a true ruler if he makes a mistake and orders
subjects to do something which is really not to his advantage at all.
At what point does Thrasymachos change his tactics, and begin to argue in favor of practicing injustice? -
ANSWER:Socrates says a doctor is primarily concerned with healing the sick and incidentally making
money similar to medicine seeks not its own advantage but the advantage of the human body; by
analogy a ruler seeks the advantage of subjects not of himself.
From there Thrasymachos switches to injustice saying that it is virtuous, and justice is vicious. Justice is
everywhere at the mercy of injustice, which is reviled not because fear to do it but because they fear to
suffer it.
-It doesn't pay to be just & weaker
-Be unjust & uncaught
-Be a large criminal
What does Socrates argue in answer to the question, do the just have a better life than the unjust? -
ANSWER:Justice is wise & virtuous, and more profitable than injustice
-Unjust is chaotic
-Justice brings friendships & simple mind (cooperation)
What question about thinking did the case of Adolf Eichmann raise for Arendt? - ANSWER:Could the
activity of thinking as such, the habit of examining whatever happens to come to pass or to attract
attention, regardless of results and specific content, could this activity be among the conditions that
make men abstain from evil-doing or even actually "condition" them against it?
What are the three metaphors that Socrates uses to describe his own philosophical activity, and what is
the significance of these metaphors according to Arendt? - ANSWER:Gadfly:
Rouses sleepers so
Exam Study Guide: Questions & Answers
What is the ultimate significance of each part of the story of the cave, that is, what does each part of the
story tell us about the pursuit of philosophical knowledge? - ANSWER:The world of our sight is like
habitation in prison, the fire light there to the sunlight outside the cave, the ascent and view of the
upper world is the rising of the soul into the world of mind.
1) People in Cave:
-Imagination & beliefs
-Prisoners talk to each other; their reality is made up of shadows and echos
-Prisoners have limited knowledge; this reality is all they know
2) Outside:
-Reality, Real World
-New things & environment (thinking-reasoning)
-Struggle for more knowledge
-able to ascend to the world of the mind and ideas, once one grasps the form of the good-knowledge is
holistic; achieved once you understand everything/anything
-turn your attention to a new source to pursue (prisoner freed from outsider)
3) Prisoner returns to Cave
-attempts to get others to come
-Represents lack of pursuit/wanting of education (prisoners)
-Freed prisoners death is the death of knowledge
Why are those in the cave prisoners? - ANSWER:These people grew up in the cave with their necks and
legs restrained not allowing them to move forcing them to only look forward at shadows on the wall.
What are they chained (what do their chains represent)? - ANSWER:We are attached to our bodies and
our bodies are a distraction and distortion so we can't see the truth. Anything that keeps the individual
from being able to learn.
What is the significance of the shadows and echoes? - ANSWER:-False truths; illusion of reality
,-Prisoners have only seen shadows in their life, no real objects
-They see the shadow of their reality and they don't know any better
Echos:
-words/sounds/echos from prisoners own voices
-believe the shadows are talking
How does one prisoner get free? - ANSWER:An outsider comes and frees a prisoner and drags them out
of the cave.
What does the rough ascent represent? - ANSWER:Process of letting go of old beliefs and starting to
accept new ones. (Some resistance because we don't want to accept new beliefs at first)
Why must the person be helped up the ascent by another? - ANSWER:Because they wouldn't be able to
climb it themselves because the light is too bright and they would want to go back into the cave.
What is their first impression of the outside world? Why? - ANSWER:The brilliance of the light would fill
his eyes and he wouldn't be able to see any real things because he isn't used to the light.
What happens over time? - ANSWER:He would look at shadows, then images of mankind and the rest in
water, last the things themselves. From there he would find it easier to survey by night to look at stars,
moon, etc. and during the day he can see the sun.
What is their later attitude toward their life in the cave? - ANSWER:The person is greatful to be out of the
cave but he has second thoughts because he wants to let the others know.
Why do they go back in the cave? - ANSWER:Because the prisoner wants to tell the ones still in the cave
to go see the outside world.
What happens when they go back? - ANSWER:The prisoners still in the cave think he is crazy because he
sounds crazy and cannot identify the shadows on the wall. So the prisoners tell him to leave and that if
he tries to take them they will resist with force.
What is Thrasymachos' claim regarding "justice"? - ANSWER:Justice is whatever suits the stronger best.
Might is right. A ruler is always just.
How does Socrates challenge the position of Thrasymachos? - ANSWER:Rulers sometimes make
mistakes, and order subjects to do something which is really not to his advantage at all.
How does each of them describe the goal of a ruler? - ANSWER:Thrasymachos:
-Ruler commands, subjects obey; shepherds to sheep
-look out for own good
-God's do not enforce justice
-"might makes right"
, -creates laws-own advantage (power, riches, wealth)
Socrates:
-Rulers benefit their subjects
-Pilot to sailors
-Physician to patent
Can Thrasymachos defend his claims about justice from the criticisms of Socrates? -
ANSWER:Thrasymachos responds to Socrates that he isn't a true ruler if he makes a mistake and orders
subjects to do something which is really not to his advantage at all.
At what point does Thrasymachos change his tactics, and begin to argue in favor of practicing injustice? -
ANSWER:Socrates says a doctor is primarily concerned with healing the sick and incidentally making
money similar to medicine seeks not its own advantage but the advantage of the human body; by
analogy a ruler seeks the advantage of subjects not of himself.
From there Thrasymachos switches to injustice saying that it is virtuous, and justice is vicious. Justice is
everywhere at the mercy of injustice, which is reviled not because fear to do it but because they fear to
suffer it.
-It doesn't pay to be just & weaker
-Be unjust & uncaught
-Be a large criminal
What does Socrates argue in answer to the question, do the just have a better life than the unjust? -
ANSWER:Justice is wise & virtuous, and more profitable than injustice
-Unjust is chaotic
-Justice brings friendships & simple mind (cooperation)
What question about thinking did the case of Adolf Eichmann raise for Arendt? - ANSWER:Could the
activity of thinking as such, the habit of examining whatever happens to come to pass or to attract
attention, regardless of results and specific content, could this activity be among the conditions that
make men abstain from evil-doing or even actually "condition" them against it?
What are the three metaphors that Socrates uses to describe his own philosophical activity, and what is
the significance of these metaphors according to Arendt? - ANSWER:Gadfly:
Rouses sleepers so
