Perception And Imagery In Plato's Allegory Of The Cave

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What is the definition of perception and ignorance? Let us define perception as one’s view of life through rationalize of the external world and ignorance as an assumption without proof and contemplation. In the “Allegory of The Cave”, Plato uses Socrates to explain different types of people, one who sees the physical realm accepting ideas as they form and one who live in the knowledge realm by questioning their ideas. People of the knowledge realm are obligated to help those in the physical realm by removal of ignorance through questioning. This is shown as prisoners of the cave look to the walls as their perception of their world which relates to people’s limited perception of the world such as people who grown up religious deny
As Socrates state “visible realm should be likened to the prison dwelling, and the light inside it to the power of the sun, if you interpret the upward journey and the study of things above as the upward journey of the soul to the intelligible realm” (Grube, p. 189), anyone who accepts rationalized ideas from the external world live in the visible realm and those who question their own ideas rationalized from the external world live in the knowledge realm. this is referenced in the Apology when Socrates said “I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser than he to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know” (Hackett, p. 26 d). Socrates is wiser for he has questioned his rationalized ideas, whereas, the man has accepted his ideas without contemplation. This is true in my life as I have known extremist Muslims, their perception is limited only to the Koran for they make the assumption that the Koran is true without evidence or
Socrates believed that when people have an epiphany they must share their realization through questioning of others which removes ignorance. This is evident in the Apology as Socrates state “I go around seeking out anyone, citizen or stranger, whom I think wise. Then if I do not think he is, I come to the assistance of the god and show him that he is not wise” (Hackett, p.27 23b). Socrates questioned people’s belief to breakdown their ignorance thus rising their perception to the same realization he claims “This man among you, mortals, is wisest who, like Socrates, understands that his wisdom is worthless” (Hackett, p.27 23b). Similarly, in my life as many people around me believe that life is about the accumulation of wealth thus I feel obligated to persuade my epiphany that life is more than about money, more than a big house, or a trophy wife that it’s about the rediscovery of self through various expression in the external world.

In conclusion, the allegory of the cave is a depiction of people’s limited perception of the world and how it’s the duty of those who have overcome their limited views through questioning their own

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