Assignment 12 HUM 1020 plato and art
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Philosophy
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Dec 6, 2023
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Assignment 12
Read:
Plato, “Truth as Extra Sensible Realty,” p. 327.
Maxine Morphis, “The Philosopher as Dancer: In Consideration of Plato’s Theory of
Truth,” p. 344.
Please also read my explanation of Plato’s Theory of Forms, (sometimes called the
Theory of Ideas), which is provided with this assignment.
_________________________
Question 1: After reading Plato, tell the whole story of the Allegory of the Cave from
beginning to the end.
Answer 1.
The cave serves as a metaphor for how we conduct our lives and how we rely our judgments of reality
more on what is visible and heard immediately in the environment around us than on the understanding
that what exists may only be perceived as a shadow. Despite recognizing that this had been their sole real-
ity and lacking a complete understanding of what life is, those imprisoned who could only see the shad-
ows thought that was how it was. A prisoner managed to break free of the restraints and emerged from the
cave with knowledge of the outside world. The prisoner who made his escape went back to help the other
inmates understand the world as it is. The rest of the inmates rejected the concept of escaping the cave
and said they couldn't grasp anything they hadn't encountered firsthand. They also threatened to dis-
miss those who attempted to flee. This demonstrates how disdainful people may be of things they fail to
comprehend and how fearful they can be of unbelieved truths.
______________________
Question 2: Referring to the reading by Plato, explain Plato’s Divided Line. What are
the 4 kinds of objects? (This is where Plato explains the different kinds of objects.
There are 4 main kinds of objects.)
Answer 2:
Plato divided a line into two halves to represent the intelligible and the visible order. He split those two
pieces once more to make two divisions, one on either side of the line. Images like shadows and reflec-
tions are part of the visible world. Real things like the creations of nature and the living organisms nearby
are represented in the intelligible world. Utilizing the first principle fundamentally involves using our
imaginations to create unadulterated concepts or forms. Instead of starting with presumptions that con-
template the items, using the first principle enables us to truly comprehend how these objects are per-
ceived. While preconceptions will go under the classification of the visible world, which distances our
minds from what is true and real, the first principle will come under the classification of the intelligible
world, which draws us toward what is true and real. The greatest of the four stages of the mind is intellect,
and the lowest are thinking, believing, and imagining.
______________________
Question 3: Explain what you think of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and the Divided
Line. Do you think Plato’s is right or wrong about reality? Is there any good to his
views? Do you think his views are bad? Why?
Answer 3:
The idea of the real meaning of actuality was made easier to understand by Plato's Allegory of the Cave
and the Divided Line. What is true about the real world stays concealed till we go deeper into the concept
of intellect knowledge since our view of actuality relies upon what we already observe in front of us.
Since we already can observe these items and presume their existence, humans are walled off to the no-
tion that reality contains a concealed truth. To appreciate the broad spectrum of perception of actuality, we
must comprehend the concept of forms, which is the basic worth of these items. With the aid of Plato's
idea of forms, we can discern the basis of actuality rather than just accepting it as what it is.
_____________________
Question 4: Explain what Morphis says about Plato’s view of art as imitation as it
applies to poetry, music, and dance.
Answer 4:
According to Morphis, Plato's theory is that all art is mimicry and exists to imitate other forms of art. He
argues that Plato's theories on art are only imitations of the linked truths and lose their relevance in terms
of the intent and significance of the art. These imitation works of art make an effort to mimic the original,
but instead, fail to capture the original work's purposeful meaning. Arts that are mere copies lack their sig-
nificance of reality, which makes it harder for people to understand.
_______________________
Question 5: Explain what Morphis says about Plato’s view of the role that art plays
in society. What does Plato say about art and artists? What are all of Plato’s
criticisms of art and artists, poetry, music, and dance?
Answer 5:
Younger audiences may develop a perception of art's social role as being overly persuasive and possibly
deceptive. They are unlikely to trust anything else since they will assume that such replicas are the real
thing. Although works of art have a significant impact on society, it is thought that they may distort public
perception and cause people to reject the truth. Because inspiration instead of information or reality is the
driving force behind them, they are poor educators. Works such as poetry and drama play on people's
sympathies and want, which can result in inappropriate behavior and cause people to doubt the veracity of
the facts.
____________________
Question 6: What do you think about Plato’s views on censorship and art? Is some
art bad for society? Do you agree with Plato on this or not? Explain why or why not.
Answer 6:
In that it prevents the consequences of unethical inspirations from art, the concept of censoring art is ra-
tional. A few kinds of art might focus on human emotions that can motivate questionable activity. They
may falsify items that deceive people and keep them away from knowing the truth. The kind of art that
appeals to people's wants to act immorally is terrible for society. I concur that certain work has to be
edited and overseen to avoid real errors.
___________________
Question 7: According to Morphis, can we think of art as expressing universal truths
in any way? Does dance express universals in any way? Explain her views and her
reasons for them.
Answer 7:
Morphis asserts that she does not think that universal truths can be expressed through art. She adds that
there are a few unmet requirements associated with art that might be taken into account whether it can be
used to represent universal truth. Plato's idea of forms, in which this work of art is just a mimicry, is not
fully realized in art. Dance can be used to 'universalize' concepts and movements beyond cultural bound-
aries, but there isn't enough proof to support this as a universal truth. If this is what they meant by a uni-
versal truth, Morphis can identify with Plato's position, but it falls low of his idea.
__________________
Question 8: Do you agree with Morphis’ views that you explained in question 7?
Explain why or why not.
Answer 8:
I disagree with Morphis' assertion that universal truths are unable to communicate through art. Art is a
means of portraying both human and natural forms. It is a method for comprehending humanity and can
be used to assist explain human behavior. We can comprehend the reason why individuals act in certain
ways by understanding the realities that people communicate via the medium of art. Art allows us to ques-
tion thoroughly, investigate the world, and widen our horizons. Through art, it's possible to discover and
accept things in new ways, changing how we perceive the world.
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