The book needed for this class is “Western Philosophy. 2nd ed. Ed. by John Cottingham. Blackwell, 2007” it’s important that the answers be based on this book.
Please submit a Word document with answers to the following questions pertaining to this week’s readings.
Plato, “The Allegory of the Cave” (Republic) – pp. 69-75
1. Why do you think the Form of the “Good” is considered by Plato to be the ultimate illuminating idea that helps understand truth and reality?
2. Recount and explain Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. How does it relate to knowledge? How does it relate to levels of reality?
3. Explain in your own words the levels of reality represented by Plato’s divided line.
Aristotle, “Individual Substance” (Categories) – pp. 76-79
1. In your own words and referencing the reading, explain the main point Aristotle makes in describing a primary, basic, “substance” as the fundamental basis of reality.
2. What does Aristotle mean when he says that a substance cannot be “said of” or “said in” a subject? Look up the concept of a “predicate” online. How might you rephrase Aristotle’s point by saying a substance can never be a predicate?
3. Why do you think Aristotle picks out primary substance as the basic building block of reality, and not the parts, or atoms, or matter, or any other smaller thing that might make up a substance?
Aristotle, “Four Types of Explanation” (Physics) – pp. 413-415
1. List and explain in your own words the four main reasons (sometimes called “causes”) for why a substance is what it is according to Aristotle.
2. Take the example of a table. How would you explain why a table is what it is, in terms of the four main types of explanation according to Aristotle.
3. What does Aristotle say about the fourth cause of things, and how it even exists in nature? How does nature show this cause? Do you agree or disagree that there is a true purposefulness in nature? Why?