Analysis Of Plato's Point In Allegory Of The Cave

Response: What is Plato’s Point in “Allegory of the Cave”? At some point in our lives, everyone has asked themselves some version of the same questions: What is “reality”, in conjunction with what determines our perception of reality, and what am I supposed to do with (or about) it? Throughout “Allegory of the Cave,” Plato attempts to answer these questions. Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave,” suggests that humans have a constrained view of the world, and that there are two different perceptions of reality, a "bodily eye” and a “mind’s eye.” The “mind’s eye”, the hypothetical site of visual recollection or imagination, is a higher level of thinking. When the prisoners are set free from their chains and begin to explore the outside world,

On a whim, you decide to get a glimpse of this green sky, only discover that the sky is really blue. Surely, this has to be some sort of delusion right? As you continue to examine your surroundings, you come to the realization that this is not a delusion, but indeed reality; but what about your previous beliefs, as well as those still confined to the darkness? Is it not your responsibility to enlighten them?

Socrates (and Plato’s) stance is that once were able to grasp the concept of reality, it is the responsibility of the informed to guide the uninformed into true awareness. With that in mind, there is a chance that those who are still uninformed will contest, on the grounds that the cave is all they have ever known to be reality. Furthermore, when presented with evidence to support your claims, you’re viewed as crazy or unrealistic. Some may even view you as a threat or a danger and contemplate execution to prevent from spreading the truth, or what they would consider “corrupting” their way of

(Plato)

“And if they can get a hold of this person who takes it in hand to free them from their chains and to lead them up, and if they could kill him, will they not actually kill him”? (Plato)

Even when considering those circumstances, are we not still obligated to educate the uneducated?

We all have had preconceived notions about reality at one point or another. Some of us mistake sensory knowledge for the truth, while others seek the truth through philosophical reasoning. Both forms should be comprehended together; you need to understand everything in order to understand anything, regardless of the consequences. Knowledge should be embraced and not feared. Not everyone has the ability to see the truth, or the motivation to seek the truth. Therefor it is the responsibility of the enlightened to enlighten