What Glaucon wants to prove to Socrates by retelling the story of Gyges Ring

  1. Describe in your own words what Glaucon wants to prove to Socrates by retelling the story of Gyges Ring (pp. 42-47). What is Socrates’s response to Glaucon’s proposition? What type of education would we need if we follow Glaucon’s proposition? What type of education would best suit Socrates’s response?
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  2. Describe the parable of “The Sun” (pp. 219-220), “The Divided Line” (pp. 221-226), and “The Cave” (pp. 227-235), as recounted by Socrates. What does each parable try to convey about education?
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  3. Describe the parable of “The Cave” (pp. 227-235) as recounted by Socrates. Discuss how this allegory can help us today to understand our world.
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  4. Unless either philosophers become kings in their countries or those who are now called kings and rulers come to be sufficiently inspired with a genuine desire for wisdom; unless, that is to say, political power and philosophy meet together… there can be no rest from the troubles. (Plato, Republic, p. 178-179)
    Discuss the meaning of the above passage. Do you agree? Be sure to detail your reasons.