INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY AND

CRITICAL THINKING
PLATO’S ALLEGORY OF CAVE
INTERPRET THE ALLEGORY OF CAVE
Imagine the people chained in the cave represent
us, human being and the cave is this world we live in.
Interpret what Plato wants to communicate.
What do the shadows represent? What kind of
chain we are chained with? What is Reality?
IDEALISM
•Any metaphysical view according to which “REALITY” is
Immaterial; spiritual or psychical.
• Some renowned Idealists; Plato, Berkeley, Hegel
PLATO’S IDEALISM

•Reality as it appears VS Reality as it is

• This world (World of Senses) VS Real World (World of
Ideas/Forms)
MATERIAL WORLD; WORLD OF SENSES
• Everything in this world is subject to change
• Change is sign of imperfection
• Real is Perfect thus it should be unchangeable; Eternal
•Being eternal means beyond time & Space
•Thus Real is Immaterial
•This material world is NOT Real. It is shadow of Real
THE DIVIDED LINE
IMPLICATIONS OF IDEALISM
• Reality being immaterial can be known through Rationality
(intellect)
•Rationality is important and of high value
•This world is manifestation of a rational order
•Human beings are superior to Animals and other beings as they
have rationality
•Values are real and objective as the source of values is world
of Ideas
SUBJECTIVE IDEALISM OF BERKELEY
“ To be is to be perceived”

Agree?
SUBJECTIVE IDEALISM OF BERKELEY
• Material objects exists only when they are perceived by a mind
•We never know the objects but only know the ideas of these
objects
•Mind is more real as the matter is dependence upon mind for its
existence
PLATO’S OBJECTIVE IDEALISM VS SUBJECTIVE
IDEALISM
• Reality is psychical exists as idea in the mind. It does not have
independent existence
• Reality consists of Immaterial entities that exist in the world of
ideas as independent of mind
MATERIALISM
• Matter is only reality
•Everything is made of matter
IMPLICATIONS OF MATERIALISM
• Atheism
•No life hereafter
•No objective morality
•Human beings are part of nature and are animals
• Hedonism