Allegory of the Cave Assignment

PHL 310 – Ethics

Assignment 3 – Draw Plato’s Cave [25 pts]

Due: Lesson 8 (25 Jan 11)


ASSIGNMENT: You will invariably run across people in your career, both up and down the chain, who just don’t get it. They need a picture.

From your reading assignment, take the description of the cave [514a – 521a] and, on one 8 ½” x 11” piece of printer/copier paper, draw it. Socrates describes several important features of the cave. Make sure you get them all.

Remember, your task is to simplify a complicated image for someone who isn’t getting it. Use labels if you need to (i.e., if your stick people might be mistaken for fish in trees), but don’t write paragraphs.

GRADING: This assignment will be graded on your ability to distill basic facts from the source, determining what is pertinent to get the message across, and to represent the major features in Socrates’ description (15 pts). Neatness and overall artistic ability will also be evaluated, insofar as they contribute to the clarity/communication of your rendition (10 pts).

NOTE: If your work is not only complete, but also aesthetically pleasing and suitable for display, I’ll offer 5 pts extra credit in return for the piece. You’ll know you’re eligible if you see “+5” next to your grade.