Analysis of Platos Allegory of the Cave Essay example

Analysis of Platos Allegory of the Cave Platos Allegory of the Cave presents a vision of humans as slaves chained in front of a fire observing the shadows of things on the cave wall in front of them. The shadows are the only reality the slaves know. Plato argues that there is a basic flaw in how we humans mistake our limited perceptions as reality, truth and goodness. The allegory reveals how that flaw affects our education, our spirituality and our politics. The flaw that Plato speaks about is trusting as real, what one sees - believing absolutely that what one sees is true. In The Allegory of the Cave, the slaves in the caves know that the shadows, thrown on the wall by the fire behind them, are real. If they were to†¦show more content†¦The people must teach the others of the reality outside of the cave, outside of the slaves reality. These are the philosophers. The capacity to learn exists in the soul. Humans need to use their whole soul to learn, not just use their eyes. Plato writes, the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already; and that just as the eye was unable to turn from the darkness to light without the whole body, so too the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being. (Jacobus 320). According to Plato, human beings misperception about reality also affects ones spiritual growth. When the slave makes the ascent and sees the sun, he might mistake it for God. Plato writes, He will then argue that this [the sun] is he, the guardian of...the visible world...the cause of all things (Jacobus 318). Having moved from darkness into light, the slave comes to the conclusion that this bright light must be God. Plato argues that one?s soul holds knowledge of what is true. When one learns, one simply remembers. People originate from Heaven where they knew the truth. In the Bible it states, Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (Corinthians II, 4:16). One is renewed day by day by remembering things that their soul knows, but that they have forgotten. Plato discreditsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Platos Allegory Of The Cave864 Words   |  4 PagesOn the surface of Plato’s â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† it is just a simple piece, but the main purpose of the piece is to explain people living in a world of face value and having individuals break free from the main idea to create a new sense of what the world is truly about. In here, Plato uses the writing style of allegory to encompass the use of imagery and symbolism to explain his purpose. He also uses very clever dialogue with constant repetition to represent a bigger idea about the philosophy withRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave - Analysis and Summary973 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Allegory of the Cave - Analysis and Summary The Allegory of the Cave by Plato represents an extended metaphor that is to contrast the way in which we perceive and believe in what is reality. The thesis behind his allegory is the basic opinion that all we perceive are imperfect reflections of the ultimate Forms, which subsequently represent truth and reality. In his story, Plato establishes a cave in which prisoners are chained down and forced to look upon the front wall of the caveRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave - Analysis and Summary987 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Allegory of the Cave - Analysis and Summary The Allegory of the Cave by Plato represents an extended metaphor that is to contrast the way in which we perceive and believe in what is reality. The thesis behind his allegory is the basic opinion that all we perceive are imperfect reflections of the ultimate Forms, which subsequently represent truth and reality. In his story, Plato establishes a cave in which prisoners are chained down and forced to look upon the front wall of the caveRead MoreAnalysis Of Platos Allegory Of The Cave1532 Words   |  7 PagesIn the allegory written by Plato titled â€Å"Allegory of the Cave†, Plato discusses the concept of seeking knowledge and gaining wisdom. He uses a story of prisoners trapped into a cave to represent the confines of reality that humans are put into, and a lone prisoner exiting the cave to represent a philosopher seeking a greater understanding. Plato’s writing tells of the flaw that all humans share, which is the fact that we believe our perceptions to be the abs olute, incontestable truth. It is thisRead MoreAnalysis of Platos Allegory of the Cave948 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Allegory of the Cave Platos Allegory of the Cave is also termed as the Analogy of the Cave, Platos Cave, or the Parable of the Cave. It was used by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work The Republic to illustrate our nature in its education and want of education. It comprises of a fictional dialogue between Platos teacher Socrates and Platos brother Glaucon. Socrates gives a description of a group of people who spent their lifetime facing a blank wall chained to the wall of a caveRead MoreRhetorical Analysis of Platos the Allegory of the Cave2111 Words   |  9 PagesEden Scharer Darrin Broadway English III-4 5th December, 2010 From Darkness to Sunlight: An Analysis of the Allegory of the Cave Imagine yourself sitting inside a dark, damp, cave where the only thing you can see are moving shadows on the cave wall in front of you. You can’t move anywhere or see anything besides the shadows, and these are the only things you’ve seen for your entire life, so these moving dark images are the most real things you’ve ever known. At some point in our childhood weRead MorePlatos The Republic: Analysis of the Chapter Entitled Allegory of the Cave588 Words   |  3 PagesThe Republic comes a chapter entitled â€Å"Allegory of the Cave†.(â€Å"Plato†) Plato’s Allegory of the Cave describes ignorance and the process of enlightenment. The cave symbolizes a prison for the mind. Cave dwellers only know of the one reality presented in the cave, yet it is not reality at all. The cave dwellers are ignorant, knowing only one way and not trying to broaden their minds. Plato uses chains and shackles to represent the mental bondage of the cave dwellers. In spite of the bondage, fewRead MoreAn Analysis of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and the Importance of Light in Discovering Truth1139 Words   |  5 Pagestranscends the exclusivity of the contemplative and the active lives. He defines the ultimate truth as â€Å"aletheia†, which literally translates to mean â€Å"unhidden† or â€Å"that which does not remain unnoticed†. Through his use of the term and his allegory of the cave, Plato makes the strong implication that philosophers must actively seek to discover the absolute truth, rather than relying on t raditional methods of contemplation and the persuasive tone of rhetoric to prove its existence. To better explainRead More Dantes Inferno Essay888 Words   |  4 Pages Dantes use of allegory in the Inferno greatly varies from Platos quot;Allegory of the Cavequot; in purpose, symbolism, characters and mentors, and in attitude toward the world. An analysis of each of these elements in both allegories will provide an interesting comparison. Dante uses allegory to relate the sinners punishment to his sin, while Plato uses allegory to discuss ignorance and knowledge. Dantes Inferno describes the descent through Hell from the upper level of the opportunists toRead MoreSynthesis of Truman Show and Platos Allegory of the Cave1440 Words   |  6 PagesCritical Analysis of The Truman Show and Platos Allegory of the Cave When The Truman Show was released in 1998, it was just another popular Hollywood flick, but its story is closely related to Platos Allegory of the Cave. The plot line for the movie follows this classic tale in many ways, some more obvious then others. As with most cinematic treachery, the movies similarities are no coincidence. The writers drew from Platos classic because it is such a universal story and is something