1. Look up Plato in Angeles. Also, look up Socratic irony in the coursepack glossary.

2. Describe Glaucon's argument in the "Ring of Gyges" excerpt from the Republic. Point out at least two flaws in his argument. Do you agree that justice is a result of a social contract as he describes it? Do you agree with his statement: "For all men believe in their hearts that injustice is more profitable to the individual than justice..."? Does "might make right"? Are justice and happiness distinct? NOTE: Glaucon is playing devil’s advocate. These views are not those of the character Socrates nor of Plato. Plato argues against them in the rest of the Republic.

3. "The Myth of the Cave" section of the Republic is allegorical. What do the cave, the chained people, the shadows and echoes, the world of sunlight, the ascent out of the cave and the other elements of the myth represent? One way to attack this question is to draw a picture based on the reading and label its parts.

4. Plato expresses his theory of ideas or forms most vividly in his "Myth of the Cave." Explain this doctrine in your own words.

5. What are five functions of Plato's Theory of Ideas or Forms?

6. Who are the best ruler's according to Socrates in the "Myth of the Cave" section? Why?

7. Why is Plato's Theory of Forms relevant to a consideration of ethics? How is the "Myth of the Cave" in some sense a response to Glaucon's arguments (which are similar to the arguments of the Sophists) in the "Ring of Gyges"? How are knowledge and virtue (or ignorance and evil) related? Does Plato have an absolute or a relative theory of the good?