Plato’s writings were based on knowledge and how one gains it mainly through philosophy. I can relate to his ideas and commitments to his students. He is passionate and does everything in his power to give his students the knowledge needed to succeed. In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato’s main message was the effects of education and the lack of it. He used the analogy of being in a cave of darkness. The only knowledge that the prisoners had been from their imagination because they haven’t experienced anything else.
This holds the prisoners back from gaining the truth that is outside of the cave. Plato describes an experience of a prisoner that was able to ascend from the cave and see reality outside. He was able to see things in a different light. He no longer had to use his imagination to comprehend things and ideas around him. He escaped the visible realm and had entered the knowable realm which provides truth and understanding (Republic, 517c). As an educator, I understand it’s important to have students look beyond the obvious.
They have to think critically about ideas and concepts presented to them. It’s important to have them examine things in different ways to fully comprehend them. In Seventh Letter, Plato offered an explanation in the different levels that he believed were the way to build intelligence. In order, one learns the name of something, its definition, its image, knowledge about it, and then the objects itself (Thirteen epistles of Plato, 342b). They are all connected and they must be achieved in order to reach the highest potential of intelligence.
This is also true for education today. A student must be taught the basics at first and move on to the proceeding steps with the last step being reasoning and explanation. As an educator, I know it is integral to have students think cognitively and problem solve. Students need to further explore ideas and be able analyze them as much as possible. This is similar to what Plato is expressing. In the Seventh Letter, the last level is where the truth is found. We cannot have students settle with just the obvious, we have to push them find an explanation of the truth.
Plato’s goal in these writings were to teach others about philosophy and help them to find the truth. He called himself a founder of philosophy in The Allegory of a Cave and explained his responsibility as one. He wrote, “It is our task as founders, then, to compel the best natures to reach the study we said before is the most important, namely, to make the ascend and see the good” (Republic, 519c). As an educator it is most important to lead our students to success and provide all the necessary tools to get them there.
It is my job to be their guide and inspiration to learn. I have to show students why education is important and how it affects their lives. Plato expressed why education is so important to people and their society. He wrote, “No city nor individual can be happy except by living in company with wisdom under the guidance of justice, either from personal achievement of these virtues or from a right training and education received under God-fearing rulers” (Thirteen epistles of Plato, 335d). Learning doesn’t simply happen by quickly learning and memorizing things.
Plato also made this clear in Seventh Letter. Plato wrote, “Even though he may be quick at learning and remembering this and that and other things, nor any man who, through akin justice, is slow at learning and forgetful, will ever attain the truth that is attainable about virtue” (Thirteen epistles of Plato, 344a). Learning has to be more involved. Students need to experience and be actively engaged in their learning. If students just read from a book or listened to a lecture, they cannot be taught to the fullest extent.
They need to participate and play an active role in their learning to maximize their potential. A section of The Seventh Letter that I found greatly interesting was when Plato was discussing whether Dionysius really was learning and committed to his teaching. He explained the way he had to examine Dionysius to see if he qualified. He wrote, “You must picture such the extent of the undertaking, describing what sort of inquiry it is, with how many difficulties it is beset, and how much labor involves” (Thirteen epistles of Plato, 340c).
Plato was assessing Dionysius and what it would take to teach him. As an educator, I will have to do the same. I will have to assess all of my students to see where they’re at, how they learn, and the best way to teach them. This is one of the most important parts of a teacher’s job. Students cannot learn if a teacher does not learn about their students and differentiate their teaching to maximize the student’s learning potential.
I think my only resistance to Plato’s educational ideas and practices would be that he picked who he taught. As an educator, we don’t have that option nor would I want it. I want to be an educator because I want to teach all students. I know there’s going to be students that may be resistant to learning or may be difficult to teach, but I expect that and accept that challenge. Everyone deserves an education and I will do everything in my power to do that.