Plato believed that there were four levels or approaches to knowledge
and genuine understanding. They are illustrated in the REPUBLIC in the
allegory of the cave and in the divided line.
Level one: guided by images, stories guesses, opinions
Level two: guided by practical common sense, trial and error approach,
practical
Level three: a theoretical, scientific approach seeking to understand why
things are as they are
Level four: philosophical approach, by which theories are themselves
evaluated. True understanding
1. The Divided Line, The REPUBLIC, book six
Palto's Theory of Knowledge and the Structure of the Republic
Intelligible
World Knowledge (Episteme)
Intelligence (level 4) Dialectics
Soul-Reasoning understanding Reason- nous
the essence of a thing…. (How True Science- Episteme
Judgment
does something exist at all)
the IDEAL FORMS Realm of Being
Absolute Good –True understanding
Philosophical approach, by which theories are **********************
themselves evaluated. Character in Dialogue: Socrates (Philosopher)
And so with dialectic; when a person *******************
starts on the discovery of the absolute by method of understanding-presenting the four
the light of reason only, and without any levels: The simile of the Sun.
assistance of sense, and preserves until
by pure intelligence he arrives at the
perception of the absolute good
- Plato’s Republic (532-534D)
Truth and existence itself
Abstraction Level three: a theoretical,
Understanding dianoia scientific approach seeking to
Theorization
understand why things are as
Realm of Being
Knowledge of why they are
(The point of origin and steps to the first
Use of prediction to verify principals)
***********************
Character in Dialogue:
Hypotheses
- Numbers mathematical postulates
Glaucon and Adaimantos (Social / political (Knowledge of things like mathematics)
Theorists) Deals with process of thought that is derived
******************** from visible objects
method of understanding-presenting the four Custom terms them sciences, but they
levels: The Divided Line ought to have some other name,
implying greater clearness than opinion
and less clearness than science…-Plato’s
Republic (532-534D)
…. The intermediate between opinion and
reason….
- Plato’s Republic (532-534D)
Sensible World (Visible World)
Opinion (Doxa)
Level two: guided by practical Common Sense ?
common sense, trial and error Belief-pistis
Realm of Becoming
approach, practical
Opinions
Faith or Conviction
Maybe true some of the time occasionally Know how
wrong since based on the visual world of **********************
change. Character in Dialogue: Thrasymachus (Sophist
Have almost no truth and barely and lawyer/politician)
exist at all *******************
method of understanding-presenting the four
levels: The Curriculum for Dialectical
Thinking
Imagination Level one: guided by images,
Conjecture- Eikasia stories guesses, opinions
Guesses
Illusions:Arts (shadows,
Realm of Becoming
Opinions reflections, paintings, poetry)
For the arts in general are concerned with
**********************
the desires or opinions of men.
Character in Dialogue: -Plato’s Republic (532-534D)
Cephalos and Polemarchus ( a wealthy old
man and his son) *Reflections to the world –not real and is
******************* proportional to visible things that are real
method of understanding-presenting the four
levels: The Allegory of the Cave
