Volpe 1
Matthew Volpe
Prof. Eddy
Intro to Philosophy
September 4, 2019
Analogy of the Sun Reconstruction
In the beginning of the text, Plato explains the many forms of reality. As a brief, the
ultimatum is that the sun is the ultimate source of truth also in the Form of the good. Plato begins
by explaining the raw nature of how things are seen. People use their senses to see and know
things are visible. For example, the eye will look at something in color, and we know that that
object is in fact there, but with another element in play that ceases to be remembered. Plato
explains that light is the element that is forgotten. “Light is the bond that links together sight and
visibility.” The sun is then the source of power which the eye derives from and to the perceptible
objects. Through the sun can the visible realm be seen along with giving the eye the power of
seeing. Thus, with sight can goodness be brought, but only to the visible realm, what about the
intelligible realm? Plato explains that the intelligible realm can be derived from the truth that the
sun brings. Where we know that the moon and the stars are in the sun, but only can be visible
when the sun shines on them. So then he explains, “And the soul is like the eye: when resting
upon that on which truth and being shine, the soul perceives and understand, and is radiant with
intelligence, but when turned towards the twilight of becoming and perishing, then she has
opinion only and goes blinking about.” Basically, comparing the soul to the sun where when its
turned away, it then becomes an opinion and know knowledge. Then truth comes in to play
where it is visible through its own light. It is impartial to knowledge ad gives the power of
knowing to the “knower.” He then explains, the sun not only gives things the ability to be
Volpe 2
known, but also the nourishment and growth for things to flourish. Plato then relates this back
too goodness where good is only knowable through its own truth and the essence the object is of.
Concluding with Glaucon to make sure the distinction of the visible realm and intelligible realm
are clear.