Plato's Cave

(1) What is the idea of the good for Plato? What serves as the image of the idea of the good in Plato's parable of the Cave? What does Plato intend to convey by using the image that he does of the good in the parable of the Cave?

The idea of the good for Plato is the sun is the center of the universe and the world is organized by the goods. Plato thinks everything in the world is not really real, it is just for appearance. Plato uses The Cave example to difference between appearance and reality. In The Cave, prisoners were chained, and they can only see the shadows of outside people. Plato says that we are like prisoners, philosophy is about breaking the chain and get out of the cave and find the truth.

(2) What are forms or ideas for Plato? Why does Plato think that forms or ideas are what reality truly is and that they are the only things that can truly be known and understood?

Plato believes if people can't justify their opinion, then person with knowledge can provide answers or opinion, but opinion is not enough, once people talk about reality of principles, then they are out of the cave.

(3) Plato's Cave is concerned with the relationship of the forms and ideas that express absolute standards of how one ought to act to everyday patterns of conduct and beliefs about what is desirable and good to do. How is this relationship expressed in the parable of the Cave?

Plato says, if you only understand things, if and only if you understand the ideas and their functions are. The whole world is organized by a standard, that standard is the ideal of good; the real reality is the ideal standard through our daily life. Plato says, that the world is like a cave, we are like the chained prisoners, we can only see the shadows, we need to find reality.

(4) What does Kant think is the only thing that could be considered to be good in an unrestricted sense? Why does he think that this is the only thing that could be considered to be good in an unrestricted sense?

Kant thinks that the only thing that is good in and outside of the world could be considered to be absolutely good is the good will. In Kant's groundwork, he stated that a will is committed to do a good thing for a good reason, a valve. A good will is everywhere, no matter what situation you are in. Kant thinks only God's will is the only will without limitation, the good will is a kind of ideal that aught to regulate human behavior, even if this ideal is never fully realized by a person

(5) Why does Kant think that the distinctive function of reason offers support for the idea that only the good will is good in an unrestricted sense?

Kant says, the reason we have reason is not to satisfy our desires, reason allows us to back up our circumstances. Good will gives u a reason, which motivates one to act, and only function of reason is what makes us happy.

(6) What is duty for Kant and why is it important to morality? Explain Kant's distinction between action in accordance with duty and action from duty. You may use examples to illustrate your point.

Kant defines duty as the way to find the right things to do, we have motivations to do things that are not good in an absolute sense, because we are creatures that have a particular individual makeup with particular needs and subjective point. Duty is present only where desires serve as an impediment to do what one ought to do. Kant identifies duty with an overriding obligation to do something, but he regards such obligation as duties only in those cases that the obligations are taken on override all other obligation one may has.

Kant stated that action is accordance with duty means you do it only for personal interest. Action in accordance with duty can be broken down into two parts.

1) Immediate inclination is something that you want and desire now, For example, I'm late for my Philosophy lecture, but I suddenly have this desire for coffee, so I went to the food store and bought a cup of coffee and end up being late for the lecture.

2) An inclination hat is not immediate, in another word, a self interest. It is an inclination to satisfy my other inclination and or to satisfy the sum total of my desires. For example, I attend all the Philosophy lectures and discussion class because I want to learn more about philosophy and become a philosopher.

Action from duty is doing it because it is the right thing to do; Kant assumes that all action from duty also conforms with duty. For example, I work at a restaurant, it is my duty to be nice and greet every customer.

(7) Kant thinks of happiness as a goal (an end) that all of us must have because of our natures as creatures that have needs. Why does Kant think that happiness is nevertheless not something that we have an overriding obligation to pursue?

Kant says one of our goals is to have happiness, happiness has often been thought of as it is something that is good for its own sake rather than good for any further benefits it might bring. Kant thinks that happiness can be damaging to someone's moral character by making one bold and even arrogant, he also says that happiness without a good will is repugnant to the