Philosophy: Plato, The Republic, Allegory of the Cave, and Divisions of Philosophy

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the notes on Plato, the Academy, The Republic, Allegory of the Cave, and the traditional divisions of philosophy.

Academy

Plato's school; the first institution of higher learning in the Western world; lasted 915 years.

Plato

Student of Socrates; founded the Academy; wrote dialogues (e.g., The Republic) in which Socrates appears as a central character.

The Republic

Plato's most famous and longest dialogue; Socrates is the main character; explores reality, knowledge, and political philosophy.

Dialogues

Plato's written conversations in which Socrates is a central character.

Allegory of the Cave

A story in The Republic about prisoners who see only shadows; used to illustrate how belief and knowledge arise from perception versus reality, and to discuss awakening to enlightenment.

Philosophy

Love of wisdom; philosophy is an activity and hard work whose aim is freedom through examining our basic assumptions.

Epistemology

The study of knowledge.

Metaphysics

The study of reality.

Ethics

The study of values.