A: Discuss before you watch 🗣
- Who was Plato and what is he known for in the field of philosophy?
- What is an allegory, and how does it differ from a literal story or narrative?
- Based on the title "Why is Plato's Allegory of the Cave still Relevant," and the picture above, what do you predict the video might discuss or explore?
- How do you think understanding philosophical concepts can enhance our critical thinking and perception of reality?
B. Watch the introduction of the video and define "Allegory" (0:00-1:15’) 🤔
Plato's allegory of the Cave is a selection from a larger work called The Republic written about 375 BC, which uses an allegory to
illustrate his ideas. An allegory is a form of storytelling that uses symbolic
characters, objects, or events to represent abstract or moral ideas.
C. Listen👂to the explanation of "The Allegory of the Cave" without watching and draw 🖍what you hear. (1:16’-2:49’) After that, watch 📽 the video and compare the images shown to the ones you've drawn.
D. Now say if the following are True or False. Account for your answers. 🎯
E. What’s the missing word? ✍
F. CAE Key Word Transformation. ✍
G. Discuss the following questions in pairs or groups of 3. 🗣
1. How does the story relate to the concept of reality nowadays?
2. Why do you think this story has endured for over 2,000 years?
3. In what ways can we apply the lessons from the Allegory of the Cave to our own lives?
4. Do you believe that reality is subjective or objective? Why?
5. How might technology impact our understanding of reality?
6. Have you ever had an experience that made you question your perception of reality?
H. Creative part (5 ideas 💡)
Using a fake Instagram post generator like zeoob in connection with the allegory of the cave can be a creative way to evaluate what students have learnt after this video session. Here are a few tasks they could do in groups:
- Create a fake Instagram post from the perspective of one of the prisoners in the cave. What would they post about their life in the cave? What would they think about the world outside the cave?
- Create a fake Instagram post from the perspective of the person who is freed from the cave. What would they post about their experience of seeing the real world for the first time? How would they describe the difference between the world inside the cave and the world outside?
- Create a fake Instagram post that compares and contrasts the two worlds. What are the similarities and differences between the world inside the cave and the world outside? What does this say about the nature of reality?
- Create a fake Instagram post that argues for or against the idea that the world outside the cave is more real than the world inside the cave. What evidence can you use to support your argument?
- Create a fake Instagram post that explores the implications of the allegory of the cave for our own lives. What does it mean to live in a world of shadows? What can we do to escape the shadows and see the real world?
I. Final reflection 🤔
By evaluating students through activities like these 👆, as educators we can tap into students' creativity, foster critical thinking, and create a more engaging and authentic learning experience by encouraging active participation, collaboration, innovation, and the development of valuable technological and reflective skills. 🧡
