Ideal Versions Quiz

According to Plato, focusing on the ideal version of something is one of the most useful kinds of thought exercises because it helps us:

• Ignore what is wrong with the world

• Accept the world as it is

• Define what might be wrong and make the world better

• Deal with what we've got

What did Plato refer to as 'The Forms'?

• Blueprints for making a very good version of something

• Fantasy projections that ignore reality

• Mental models of what something should be like

• Instructions for carving ornaments

According to Plato, possessing the form of something allows us to:

• Ignore the true goal

• Be guided towards a true goal

• Make things up ourselves

• Avoid doing perfect work

What does Plato believe an ideal is?

• A result of deep understanding and careful engagement with reality

• A blind projection that ignores reality

• A mental model of what something should be like

• A set of instructions for carving ornaments

According to Plato, having a form of education in mind is useful for a teacher because it:

• Allows them to be buffeted by events and day-to-day pressures

• Helps them ignore where they should be going

• Guides them towards being a good friend

• Keeps them focused on where they should be going

What does Plato believe about searching for the ideal?

• It is at odds with getting things done in the real world

• It is the opposite of being realistic

• It is a waste of time

• It is necessary for progress

According to Plato, someone setting up an airport should have in mind the ideal:

• Air traffic control system

• Passenger waiting area

• Baggage handling system

• Runway design

What does Plato suggest if an ideal seems distant and hopeless?

• Abandon the ideal

• Lower your expectations

• Get more ambitious about the ideal

• Accept the current situation