The Republic The Republic (excerpt): the allegory(寓言） of cave. The Allegory of the Cave describes four stages through which a person has to pass to get a sound education. These stages are distinguished by what a learner is able to see. Images(delusion)--perceptible&scientific objects(informed opinion)--mathematical&scientific objects(scientific knowledge)--the good(philosophical wisdom) What do the images in the cave stand for? False reality What is Plato’s understanding of the nature of education? The first thing about the prisoners in the cave is that they are looking in the wrong direction. This notion of orientation is central to Plato's idea of education: he later describes real education as the art of orientation（定位，信仰）and the educator's task as that of turning. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning souls around. It shouldn't be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity.Plato insists that studies in the mathematical sciences not be "compulsory" . "compulsory（强制的）intellectual work” never remains in the soul" .Education is liberating.The Education of Nature1.Education of nature, education of men, education of things; The internal development of our faculties and our organs is the education of nature; the use that we are taught to make of this development is the education of men; And what we acquire from our own experience about the objects which affect us is the education of things.(天性，我们是无法控制的，社会，我们也只能控制某些方面，而人的教育则是我们能完全掌控的）The one alone in whom they all coincide at the same point and tend to the same ends reaches his goal and lives co...
