What is epistemology? What are some of the most important questions that are studied in this field? What is the traditional conception of knowledge? Identify and explain the three necessary conditions of knowledge, according to this traditional conception. Given this conception of knowledge, why is it justified to distinguish between opinion (belief) and knowledge? Explain, using examples. Building from this, provide an example of something you believe, and evaluate whether it be knowledge.
Describe in detail the prisoners' original situation in Plato's "Myth of the Cave." What do the prisoners regard as real, and what do they believe they know? According to Plato, how would a prisoner react if freed and led from the darkness of the cave to the light outside the cave? How would the former prisoner be received by those still in chains inside the cave? Thinking symbolically, what is Plato signifying through this story? [HINTS: levels of reality, sources of knowledge, objects of knowledge-the forms, the nature of education and role of the educator, human psychology] Given the symbolic significance of Plato's myth, what would Plato consider to be the "shadows" of our culture? And how important would educational leaders be in today's world, given the younger generations' apparent tendency to live their lives "on the screen?"