... believes that anyone will be unjust, given the opportunity. Socrates believes that Gaulcon has a partially correct understanding of human nature. He responds to Gaulcon using the tripartide analogy. This is an analogy of the soul, which has three parts; interest, class and virtue. The Allegory of the cave can be related to the tripartide state. The condition of mankind can be illustrated by thinking of a group of prisoners in a cave. They can only look straight ahead ... . Behind them burns a fire, which is their source of light. . There is an ... ...

• Word Count: 1103
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... his plan of the ideal city. Plato's model for the ideal city is a society in which people perform the task that is best suited to them. Plato organizes people into three categories. The philosopher kings would be the elite ruling class. He expresses the superiority of the philosopher kings through the Allegory of the Cave. According to Plato, philosophers were the only ones who had transcended from the dark cave of ignorance and had broken free of the shackles of greed ... and self-interest. Since these philosophers were the only ones who were able to see light of truth, it was in the b...

• Word Count: 1216
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School