In “The Republic” Plato advocates that his readers —

A. reject democracy and support a government led by the qualified few
Correct! Plato’s views support a form a government led by a qualified view rather than a true democracy involving all citizens.

B. support democracy where everyone has a say in government
Incorrect. Plato rejected democracy because it allowed corrupt people to come into power.

C. defend tradition and not question authority
Incorrect. Plato urged people to question their beliefs and search for truth.

D. oppose any kind of social classes or hierarchy
Incorrect. Plato’s ideal form of government would lead people into social classes so that they could fit properly into society.

Plato’s ideal leader can be best described as —

A. someone who gains the most public support
Incorrect. Plato’s ideal leader would place truth and justice above the opinions of others.

B. someone filled with ambition for personal gain
Incorrect Plato’s ideal leader must be someone motivated by making society better—even at personal cost.

C. someone motivated by the common good and most able to acquire truth
Correct! Plato’s leader is someone who has rejected ignorance and puts the good of the whole above his/her own desires.

D. someone who supports the ideas and opinions of the general public
Incorrect. Plato’s ideal leader would place truth and justice above the opinions of others even if it means loss of public support.

Complete the definition using the most appropriate letter from the descriptions below.

Aristocracy —

A. is government led by the elite and most privileged classes
Correct! The best and brightest should lead society.

B. is government led by one person who rules with absolute power
Incorrect. This describes a monarchy or a dictatorship with little checks on personal corruption.

C. is government that monitors and polices most aspects of human life
Incorrect. This describes a totalitarian or police state.

D. is government in which the people rule by voting or electing representatives
Incorrect. This describes a democracy which Plato criticized heavily.

Which of the following statements best captures the meaning of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave?

A. The pursuit of truth is difficult because most of the time what we perceive as true is just a shadow of actual reality.
Correct! Plato uses shadows on the wall of a cave to represent our limited perception of reality and how individuals must struggle to increase their knowledge.

B. People should stay in their caves and not try to upset the order of society.
Incorrect. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave encourages people to “leave the cave” in order to discover truth about the world.

C. The goal of society is to establish the optimal conditions for human flourishing.
Incorrect. While Plato may not necessarily have disagreed with this statement, this is not the subject of the Allegory of the Cave.

D. Much like hunter-gatherers sitting around a fire in a cave, everyone in society should be treated equally.
Incorrect. The cave is about the pursuit of truth. Moreover, Plato did not believe in an egalitarian state, but one in which everyone had a proper role.