Republic of the Philippines

Technological University of the Philippines

COLLEGE OF INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
Philosophy of Education
Name : FABROA, DIANE MAE T.
Course : CPPT 2
Subject : PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Professor : DR. SILPA C. BAHIAN
Semester : 2ND SEMESTER
School Year : 2020 – 2021
Date Submitted: April 15, 2021
Reflection No: 1

Reflection Paper
Introduction

Plato: The Republic

7. BOOK VII

And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or
unenlightened. Behold! Human beings living in an underground den, which
has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they
have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so
that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the
chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is
blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised
way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the
screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show
the puppets.

I see.

And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of
vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and
various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking,
others silent.

You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners.

And now look again, and see what will naturally follow it' the prisoners are
released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated

Prepared by:
SILPA C. BAHIAN, ED.D. College of Industrial Education/Professional Industrial Education 3/3/2021
This material is intended for the class only but not for distribution
 and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and
look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him,
and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had
seen the shadows….

And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged
ascent, and held fast until he's forced into the presence of the sun himself, is
he not likely to be pained and irritated?

And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom

of the den and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that
he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?

Body Paragraphs

We are like those strange prisoners in that strange den with fire. Strange
story just presented elements of an idealistic way of considering our
situation, about human nature. For Metaphysics: Underground cave or lower
world and above ground or higher world, Lower world is a lot darker, more
shadowy, not that great in contrast to higher world everything is bright.
Epistemologically implication is the person trapped in the cave from birth
believes that this is the only world. We are the representation of the person
chained in the cave, the chain prevented us from rising up and achieving a
higher order of knowledge and truth, our souls and bodies are trapped.

The person is released, he stands up, he turns around and he looks toward
the light. The cognitive steps from a state of ignorance to a state of
knowledge. The process of education has begun, education is a painful
process. It’s not a pleasurable process. Coming to be enlightened is a painful
process. Someone comes along there and breaks the chain, forces the

Prepared by:
SILPA C. BAHIAN, ED.D. College of Industrial Education/Professional Industrial Education 3/3/2021
This material is intended for the class only but not for distribution
 prisoner to stand up and makes his head turn around and look toward the
back of the cave and that person is the TEACHER. The teacher is someone
who forces education upon the person, not to be ignorant forever, teacher
has the best interest at heart

Reflection
Describe what you saw, what you heard, and how you felt.

Felt pity. I am free, I have wonderful opportunities waiting for me, lots of
happiness but when I remember these people back in the cave and they are
in their miserable situation. What I feel is pity and that pity is what motivate
me to give up all of the wonderful possibilities that are waiting for me out
here and to go back and help those who are in need.

Compassion would be an act of love, a much more appropriate motivation to

teach. To teach has a moral obligation of course, but it is mostly an act of
love towards others because you want them to be enlighten. As a future
educator it is my part to enlighten the students, break the chain, force them
to stand up and drag them up into the light.
Conclusion
Proper motivation as a teacher is not self – interested, you’re doing it out of a
sense of obligation to those whom you pity (those who are not yet enlighten)
and that obligation requires sacrifice you give up the enjoyment and return to
the less desirable state in order to deal with people who need you and to
those who you can share yourself, your knowledge, skills. Even those who
are not grateful to you as educator.

Reference:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-epcc-
introtophilosophy/chapter/plato-the-republic-book-vii-part-2/
Prepared by:
SILPA C. BAHIAN, ED.D. College of Industrial Education/Professional Industrial Education 3/3/2021
This material is intended for the class only but not for distribution