Michelle Bernal Plato's The Allegory Of The Cave

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Michelle Bernal Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave September 15, 2017

Plato's allegory of the cave is a metaphysical illustration of the philosopher’s view of the humanity. We are represented by the prisoners, who are mired and held captive by an extremely limited view of the world, and prevented by their chains from viewing the actual Truth of existence. We are each locked up in our own worldview, living our lives unknowingly in the shadow of actual truth. Having nothing else to rely upon but our meager eyesight and hearing, capable of only believing in shadows and whispering disembodied voices, once exposed to truth, it is blinding to us. We are dazzled and disoriented, afraid of the glaring sight that has been so rudely forced upon us. …show more content…

Nothing has truly changed, only our perception. The shadows were always shadows, and will continue to be. Just as the light will always be light, and just as there will always be people that sit in darkness, whether by force or of their own volition. Our ability to perceive and understand our world was merely restricted by the cave. The prisoner is emerging from an illusion he thought was real, and finally able to see the actual reality reveal to him by the light. Only by using our senses and intellect together can we achieve …show more content…

In the beginning, they have no other choice but to form some kind of way of describing or identifying what little they could sense from their limited perspective. Their fate in life was chosen for them by whomever chained them. At the end of the allegory, however, they were so afraid of what they didn't know and clung stubbornly to their limited beliefs so that they would even harm or kill whoever would try to force them out of their comfort zone of limited views. The choice now lies fully upon their own heads. They have an opportunity to be set free by the one who escaped, an opportunity to come out of the darkness into the light of wisdom and truth. Did they choose to remain enslaved, and would bitterly refuse, on pain of death, anyone who tried to educate or convince them otherwise. Parallels for Plato's mentor, Socrates, can be found in this section of the allegory. Socrates was a philosopher who promoted or entertained thoughts and ideas that were viewed by others to be controversial. Instead of allowing him to speak his mind, he was forced to commit suicide for promoting his unconventional philosophies and his contrary political views. As he was, like the prisoner, attempting to bring light to his unenlightened fellows. Instead of hearing him out or tolerating his opposing views, they forced him commit suicide by drinking hemlock. According to Plato,

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