Question

1 Protagoras, a famous Sophist, said "man is the measure of all things." What does this mean to you? Do you agree with it? What does this say about reality?

2. What happens in Plato's allegory of the cave, and how is it connected to his theory of knowledge?
3. How has college influenced your position in the cave?-think about the way you looked at the world before you went to college.
4. We often hear people tell us to think with our heads, not our hearts.
Similarly, Plato said that we must
"rely on your reason rather than on our.. feelings." Do you agree with this--why or why not?
5. What makes you happy? After viewing Buddha's take on achieving happiness and reading about what contemporary science tells us about achieving happiness (from the Week 1 PowerPoint in Course Content area), have your views about happiness changed at all? In what ways?

Answer 1

1. To me, this statement means that each individual's perspective is valid and should be taken into account when making decisions. I agree with this statement to an extent, as I believe that everyone's opinion should be respected and considered, but I also think that there are certain objective truths that should be taken into account when making decisions. This statement implies that reality is subjective and that each individual's perspective is equally valid.

2. In Plato's allegory of the cave, a group of prisoners are chained in a cave, facing a wall. Behind them is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners is a raised walkway with puppeteers carrying objects. The shadows of these objects are cast on the wall in front of the prisoners, and the prisoners believe that these shadows are reality. One of the prisoners is freed and is able to leave the cave and see the real objects that are casting the shadows. He is then able to understand the true nature of reality and the difference between the shadows and the real objects.

This allegory is connected to Plato's theory of knowledge in that it illustrates the idea that knowledge is gained through experience and observation. The prisoner in the cave is only able to understand the true nature of reality when he is able to leave the cave and observe the real objects. This is similar to the idea that knowledge is gained through experience and observation in the real world.

3. College has influenced your position in the cave in that it has allowed you to gain knowledge and understanding of the world that you may not have had before. College has provided you with the opportunity to observe and experience the world in a way that you may not have been able to before. This has allowed you to gain a better understanding of the world and the true nature of reality. College has also provided you with the opportunity to learn and develop skills that can help you to better understand and navigate the world.

4. Yes, I agree with Plato's statement. Reason is a more reliable guide than feelings when it comes to making decisions. Feelings can be fleeting and unreliable, whereas reason can provide a more consistent and logical approach to decision-making.

5. My views about happiness have changed in that I now understand that it is not something that can be achieved through material possessions or external sources. Rather, it is something that must be cultivated internally through self-reflection and mindfulness. I now understand that true happiness comes from within and is not dependent on external factors.