Allegory of the cave - Essay Example

The allegory opens with the prisoners who are confined to a cave, all bound in a way that only allows them to look forward, not behind them or to the sides. These prisoners have always been in the cave and are unaware of the world outside. This cave symbolizes people who do not believe in the world outside because they are unable to see or hear the world. These people are essentially being held captive in a cave of misunderstanding. This concept resonates deeply within me as we live in a world where people demand to have physical proof of something to know that it exists.

For example, I know that my computer exists because I am using it to complete my assignment. On the other hand, I may not believe that my neighbor has a computer because I am unable to see it with my own eyes. We strive for evidence to know for sure that something is true or real. Despite the astounding amount of people who accept reality based on evidence, they are denying themselves what truly exists. The allegory of the cave continues with descriptions of the shadows that the prisoners see.

Since they cannot turn their heads, they can only rely on the shadows cast on the walls to get an idea of their surroundings. Having never seen real objects before, they assume that the shadows of the objects are real. These shadows represent the concept that people who believe the shadows are real are only seeing a glimmer of truth. There is more to reality than just the shadow it casts. This is yet another method in which people perceive reality: they only believe or accept what they can immediately see, hear, touch, or taste.

This takes the life out of an object though, and it blinds us further from the truth. For example, a prisoner in the cave sees the shadow of a basket cast on the wall. All he sees is the black silhouette of the basket and accepts it at face value. But there is so much more to the basket – its shape, size, color, texture, and its contents. When we see things, we see them simply as they are and refuse to delve deeper into its existence. Once again, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to completely comprehend reality.

The next concept to be introduced in the allegory of the cave is the game, which involves prisoners attempting to guess which shadow would appear next. If a prisoner guessed correctly, they would be praised and his fellow prisoners would regard him as being clever and intelligent. This game demonstrates that this intelligent person, or “master of nature” as he is referred in the story, is not really intelligent at all because he does not know the entire truth. Not only that, but he parades around like he does know everything.

He is delusional in his knowledge. We are no different in this. We claim to know more than we really know while simultaneously refusing to accept that there could be more to notice. I accept that I have my computer before me, yet I am oblivious to everything within my computer that allows it function. I cannot know the truth to my computer without first acknowledging every aspect of my computer. Plato then introduces the concept of the escaped prisoner, who leaves the cave and discovers that the world beyond is the truest reality.

He realized that the life he had known in the cave was a useless lie. He could see life as it really was. This escaped man