Preview

The Allegory of the Cave

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
481 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Allegory of the Cave
Arlet Duran
Response to “The Allegory of the Cave”
What is truth?

In “The Allegory of the Cave”, I believe truth is being portrayed as something we as humans see, maybe only once, without it even being the whole truth. Even then we neglect to see “other truths.” According to Socrates, and I quote, “From the beginning people like this have never managed, whether on their own or with the help by others, to see anything besides the shadows that are [continually] projected on the wall opposite them by the glow of fire.” Socrates believes humans will automatically assume something to be truthful, and with no actual evidence that we won’t even bother to look at the sight of whatever it may actually be. At then end, if someone would try to tell us otherwise, we will neglect the actual truth and still believe we know what the truth really is. Even if the actual truth was shown to us, and we were seeing it with the naked eye, it will not be enough to convince us otherwise of our own perception. However, I believe Socrates is saying that as humans, we need to be forced to look at the “real truth” and that it will take time to assimilate to once we’re forcibly presented with it. However afterwards, we will see the light; we will see the real truths behind what we previously believed to be false. After the truth has been revealed to us, we will assimilate to it permanently. Socrates states, and I quote, “But I think that finally he would be in the condition to look at the sun itself, not just at its reflection whether in water or wherever else it might appear, but at the sun itself, as it is….” However, knowing too much of the truth can lead to conflicts, and that is probably why so many things are hidden from us. Maybe our problem is not that we don’t want to see the truth, but that we are scared of what the outcome may be if we do know the real truths. What Socrates is saying may relate or connect to our lives in the sense that politics for example does not give

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Book Vii of the Republic

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Socrates compares the visible part of the world, the world of Belief, to the cave. The prisoner’s upward journey to freedom and the things above is like the journey of the soul to the world of Ideas, including the Form of Goodness.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Greek philosopher Plato would have benefitted from using Salvador Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory” as a tool for defending his views on reality. Dalí’s surrealistic painting and Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” refer to the illusionary aspect of the human senses and how easily a fake reality can arise from those tricked senses. Plato would have seen the famous melting clocks representing time’s dynamic nature in dreams and understood their importance to false realities because dreams are a form of false realities. He would conclude that the melting clocks represent the upper world looking down at the lower world; therefore, the painting must represent those in the cave who have escaped to see their former reality from a new perspective.…

    • 321 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Similarly, “The Allegory of The Cave” is a parable retold by Plato that challenges the misconceptions individuals hold throughout life that are based on senses and experience only. Socrates asks Glaucon to imagine men that lived in an open ended cave with their heads restricted so they could only face one direction. The men saw nothing except shadows on a wall and heard nothing except echoes from above and would presumably believe that was reality. However, Socrates’ argument is that just because these trapped men were never acquainted with the truth, does not mean that their perception on reality is trustworthy, since it is based on senses instead of knowledge. Socrates continues his allegory by illustrating what would happen if one of these “prisoners” were to break free of his chains, be able to move around, and witness a world completely…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Both "The Allegory of the Cave" and "The Matrix" are stories in which there are two realities, one perceived and one real. Although "The Matrix" is not based exactly on Plato's "The Allegory of the Cave," there are several parallels between the two works. The similarities in "The Matrix," relate to Plato's concept. They project his thoughts of natural logic from "The Allegory of the Cave" into a perspective that makes it easier for people to understand when it is put into a science-fiction movie.…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Socrates Quote Analysis

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages

    This quote is significant because it exemplifies the way Socrates uses HIS method. Socrates uses metaphors in order to humbly enlighten his audience. At times Socrates structure of explanation is perceived to be complex and or difficult to interpret. To simplify what he is attempting to get across usually takes a thorough examination. Socrates is from ancient times and his methodology still suits fit to modern day. Analyzing the context of his circumstances before death alone goes to show the depth of understanding one needs to comprehend his ideology and beliefs. This quote also provides us with the notion of not being selfish and to avoid pretentious. When one thinks about death or the chance of dying when they’re in a predicament because…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Allegory Of The Cave

    • 1305 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The students in “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara are enchained by their ignorance, in not needy to diversify their alive and apperception how the affluent last, equitable like the Prisoners in “The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato who are physically chained to the estate only being powerful to see what is in front of them. In the two readings, the authors search and take apart the problem that relations have in not face ready for their worst and not wanting to turn their living to the reform. In the history of “The Lesson” the students are taken out of their sense of comfort, just as the person who got to pilled out of there cave in “The Allegory of the Cave.” The students in “The Lesson” are repugnant to leaving their insignificant…

    • 1305 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Allegory of the Cave by Plato questions truth, reality, and demonstrates how we are similar to the prisoners within the cave. Every person has a personal “cave” and only with knowledge and understanding can we escape from the captivity ignorance.…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The symbolic representation of the cave, the slaves, the sun and so forth were quite difficult to understand at first, but after dissecting it and placing the pieces of the puzzle in the right places, the whole picture came together. Socrates explains that everyone shouldn’t live in ignorance of the world that settles for mediocre; he wants us to desire the light--the truth--that the world can offer if we look for our silver lining. Education plays a huge role in my life because I desired to achieve the sun’s truth and I love to learn. We have to go to a higher degree and, at times, we are forced to do it by peers and teachers that supports you to keep going. You will be deceived by the shadows and the illusions of the world at times, but we need to keep going to find the light of truth and happiness in bliss…

    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    African Americans in society today like the prisoners in the Allegory of the Cave are hostage to their own mentality. The two characteristics commonly shared between both is ignorance to reality and a reluctance to change. Thus in the essay the prisoners are locked and chained down in darkness with only a glow of light that allows for little sight. In turn objects placed in front of the glow cast shadows before them. These shadows are then interpreted as reality. Looking forward or straight ahead is only one-way of thinking. Being able to look around and explore allows the freedom to challenge or determine if in fact what appears to be the truth is true. African Americans ancestors went through…

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Allegory of the Cave

    • 4958 Words
    • 20 Pages

    “The purpose of communication is that it is the closest you can get to a person without actually being them”-Anonymous…

    • 4958 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Anolgy of the cave

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The analogy of the cave was created by Plato to explain his philosophy and it allowed people to understand other forms such as beauty and justice. It was a theoretical situation, were prisoners were tied up and could only see what was in front of them, which was due to a fire, which burnt behind them. This was meant to represent ordinary people who can’t see pass the illusion of their world and are, according to Plato ignorant.…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Allegory of the Cave”, written by Plato, is story that contrasts the differences between what is real and what is perceived. He opens with Glaucon talking to Socrates. He has Glaucon imagine what it would be like to be chained down in a cave, not able to see anything other than what is in front of him. He tells a story of men that were trapped in a cave and were prisoners to the truth. These prisoners have only seen shadows. But because of their ignorance, these slaves to the cave believe that the shadows are real. The story goes on to say that one of the men has been dragged out of the cave. He is not happy to see the real world, yet upset because he is being taken away from all that he knows. As he approaches the outside, he is blinded by the sunlight that he has never seen. The sunlight can be interpreted as actual sun or as knowledge, making the journey rather painful in mental and physical ways. The prisoner wants to return to his life as a peasant inside of the cave. When he is outside of the cave, he only wants to look at shadows and reflections, but later proceeds to look at actual objects surrounding him. Lastly, he looks at the sun itself, as he realizes that is what created this beautiful nature. The climax of the story is when the ma realized that he no longer has to worry about reality and reasoning, because he achieved the understanding of it. Eventually, he goes back to the cave. He is not greeted nicely back at the cave because he is seen to have taken a meaningless trip. The man who had seen the outside world took it upon himself to teach the others and lead them into understanding the truth of reality. The story finished by Socrates saying that the most qualified and wise people are the best options for leading in government, like the prisoner who discovered truth.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Bacon’s writing, Four Idols, he believes there are so called “idols” or illusions that deceive and alter one's understanding of truth and the human mind. Bacon suggests understanding the four idols, that make it unclear for reasoning to flourish truthfully, by one is able to discover the validity of reason and avoid being misleaded or misguided by these illusions and misconceptions of the world. Bacon takes a more logical and scientific approach in philosophy using results and data to determine the truth behind “how we know what we know” and how not to be deceived by our mind’s own capability. On the other hand, Plato believes that with time one will be able to see the light if it chooses because everyone was born knowing but with a vague…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What if the world everyone perceives as a reality is only an elaborate deception? Human beings believe they are living in realities because they do not know of anything else. What they feel, see, hear, taste, and feel all contribute to their subconscious belief of physical existence. As people dream, however, they usually cannot recognize that they are not living through the events—that is, until they wake up. What if they do not wake up? How would they know the difference between their false perceptions and reality? The Ancient Greek philosopher Plato explores this concept within an example he uses in his work The Republic. In his example, known as the “Allegory of the Cave”, Plato uses an allegorical cave to show how humans are uncomfortable when exposed to the truth and that they are manipulated by higher authorities. In their 1999 motion picture The Matrix, the Wachowski brothers use a computer program to display similar ideals of Plato's allegory, including how humans are controlled and negatively react to the truth. Plato's “Allegory of the Cave” serves as a philosophical basis to The Matrix, as both works suggest that humans express discomfort while exposed to truth and both argue that people are controlled by higher authorities.…

    • 870 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is the factual perception on what human’s ignorant minds accept whatever they perceive without envisioning the reality. His use of “dark” imagery illustrates how a person is trapped and isolated in his own “cave” and conceives everything without visually seeing the “light” outside the cave. He conveys the idea that the “prisoners” are stuck and “chained” in their own reality because they were only shown one perspective from “childhood”. Plato wisely suggests the idea of using our senses and how we individually depend on them to find the truth outside of our “cave”. Morality being that the prisoners can remain in the cave, scared of knowing the truth.…

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics