Allegory of the CaveAllegory of the Cave

Plato

How do you know? What is real?

How do you know? What is real?

You know best that

which changes least.

That which changes

least is most real.

How do you know? What is real?

You know best that

which changes least.

That which changes

least is most real.

How do you know? What is real?

You know best that

which changes least.

That which changes

least is most real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions{visible world

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions{visible world

the eye the sun

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions{visible world

the eye the sun

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

Understanding Forms

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions{visible world

the eye the sun

Understanding forms

Recognition of:

The Good

The True

The Beautiful

The True

The Beautiful

The Good

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

How do you know? What is real?

imaginings illusions

visible world

the eye the sun

Understanding forms

The Good

{Intelligible

World

the Mind

Recognition of:

The Good

The True

The Beautiful

The True

The Beautiful

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

{

How do you know?

–Recognition

What is real?

–The Forms

imaginings illusions

the eye the sun

Understanding forms

the Mind

You know best that which changes

least.

That which changes least is most

real.

Recognition of:

The Good

The True

The Beautiful

The True

The Beautiful

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

the eye is like the mind.the Good is like the sun.

The Good

the eye

the sun

the eye is like the mind. the Good is like the sun.

The Good

How do you know?

–Recognition

What is real?

–The Forms

imaginings illusions

Understanding forms

the Mind

Where would Plato place the artwork? Where

would you?

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

The Good

How do you know?

–Recognition

What is real?

–The Forms

imaginings illusions

Understanding forms

the Mind

Where would Plato place the artwork? Where

would you?

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

The Good

I do not mean by beauty of form such beauty as that of

animals or pictures, which the many would suppose to

be my meaning; but understand me to mean straight

lines and circles, and the plane and solid figures which

are formed out of them by turning lathes and rulers

and measures of angles; for these I affirm to be not

only relatively beautiful, like other works of art, but

they are eternally and abstractly beautiful.

Plato, Philebus 51c

Leonardo, Vitruvious Man

Leonardo, Tetracedron

Leonardo, Dodecahedron

Paolo Ucello, Chalice

Ictinus & Callicrates, Parthenon

Ictinus & Callicrates, Parthenon

Ictinus & Callicrates, Parthenon

Myron, Discobolus

Myron, Discobolus

Myron, Discobolus

Paolo Ucello, St George & the Dragon

Paolo Ucello, Battle of San RomanoPaolo Ucello, Battle of San Romano

Raphael, Engagement

Raphael, Engagement

Raphael, School of Athens

Raphael, School of Athens

Massaccio,

Trinity

9/3

Massaccio,

Trinity

Leonardo, Last Supper

Leonardo, Last Supper

Dürer, Melancholia

Cezanne, Bibemus Quarry

Cezanne, Still LifeCezanne, Still Life

Cezanne, Mt St Victoire

Cezanne, Mt St Victoire

Picasso,

House with

Garden

Picasso, Landscape with Bridge

Juan Gris, Still

Life with Fruit

and Mandolin

DuChamp,

Nude

Descending

a Staircase

Klee,

Highways

and Byways

Klee, Ad ParnassumKlee, Ad Parnassum

How do you know?

–Recognition

What is real?

–The Forms

imaginings illusions

Understanding forms

the Mind

Where would Plato place the artwork? Where

would you?

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

The Good

How do you know?

–Recognition

What is real?

–The Forms

imaginings illusions

Understanding forms

the Mind

What feature support Plato’s theory of imitation?

What features refute it?

reasoning

proofs

geometric forms

functions

formulae

beliefs

sensations

ordinary

things

The Good

In two sentences, select a

feature from art from the Cave

of Forgotten Dreams that most

exemplifies Plato's theory and

state how it does so. In two

more sentences, select a

feature from the Cave of

Forgotten Dreams that most

refutes Plato's theory and state

how it does so. Use direct

quotes from Plato. Keep it pithy,

extra sentences may detract

from your score.

Application