Glaucon: An Analysis Of Virtue By Socrates

Socrates begins this dialogue by hesitating to explain his thoughts about what the good is considered to be. After much persistent pleading by Glaucon, Socrates agrees to discuss the topic, however on a smaller level. He promises to discuss the offspring of the good as he calls it and save the father of the good for another time. Glaucon accepts this proposal and anxiously waits for Socrates to begin. Socrates begins his dialogue with a statement which he has spoken about before, “that many beautiful things are visible, but not intelligible, while the forms are intelligible, but not visible.” With this statement, Socrates moves on to ask Glaucon with which part of ourselves do we see visible things. Glaucon responds by saying with our sight. Socrates then proposes that in
Socrates however proposes that light must be present in order for us to see visible things. It is important to remember that without light one’s sight would still be present and colors of objects would still remain, however, one could not use human eyesight to see these colors because there would be nothing but darkness. Glaucon becomes amazed and brings up the role of the sun in making things visible. Socrates reveals that the sun is not sight, but is the cause of sight itself. Socrates takes this idea a step further and explains that the good itself is in the intelligible realm in relation to understanding and intelligible things; while the sun is in the visible realm in relation to sight and visible things. Glaucon becomes very confused and asks Socrates to explain this more in depth. Socrates uses an example of sight and relates it directly with the soul in an attempt for Glaucon to understand. As one looks at an object during the night the eyes are dimmed and seem nearly blind as if vision were no longer present. Once the sun appears and the objects are illuminated one’s eyes are able to see clearly and vision