Getting Critical With Plato

The PowerPoint above can be used in part or in full. It contains several slides of criticisms and two separate activities. The first is a head to head activity. This is where pupils are put in teams and they attempt to give a critical point for the statement used (as though they were writing an exam answer). Then the other teams try to challenge the first team’s ideas by either strengthening or weakening the idea given. It is fun and can be adapted as you see fit. The second activity is a silent debate. This is when each team is given an A3 sheet with a question in the middle (for example ‘Plato does not value experience enough. Discuss.’). Each team member then attempts to write a critical point about the statement. They can begin a new thread or they can support/challenge what someone else has written.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te6qG4yn-Ps?rel=0&w=350&h=263]

If you are struggling for inspiration to help explain Plato’s cave analogy then the Matrix is always useful. Below is a film clip which contains the scene where Morpheus challenges Neo to make a decision about how he wants to live his life. If he takes the red pill then he will be on the journey to true knowledge (released prisoner leaving the cave) but if he takes the blue pill then he will continue to live in ignorance (the prisoners chained in the cave). The Matrix metaphor can be a useful way for pupils to make sense of Plato. Also Nietzsche’s words to his sister are useful: