(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 realit ...