Platos Allegory of the Cave - Research Paper Example

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Plato’s The Allegory of the Cave (Cohen) is a parable highlighting the difference between the shadows prisoners see on the wall of the cave, the illusion and the truth that passes through the society. According to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave humans live ignorant lives that are not based on the truth based on various situations that they are exposed to by the various environments. He symbolically presents the various predicaments that face mankind, in studying this story one discovers how we judge thins whether it is what we perceive or use of logical reasoning.

According to the allegory tells of a story where there are prisoners put in a cave chained together from childhood each of them facing the wall. Behind them is a huge fire that causes shadows to be formed on the wall. Therefore the prisoners only see the shadow and according to the allegory the prisoners come to accept the shadow is real since they are unable to grasp the whole picture. They basically accept what they are accustomed to seeing. The shadows represent the messages given to the society by politicians, people in business and the media who control how we perceive things.

There are many chains holding people prisoners in a cave for fear of cultural acceptance for instance when a political leader wants to spread propaganda. Many people would want just to believe “the shadow” projected to them rather than see the actual objects. After a while one of the prisoners is escapes captivity and this forces him to see the bigger picture of the cave. He is also made to move out of his familiar cave into the light which he painfully does. He is able to see the object casting the shadows these represents the things that influence our perceptions and sense of judgment.

They include people in politics, media, and business, religious and educational leaders. Our leaders tell us what to believe they pass on to us their own ideologies for example our political leaders. Most people do not want to formulate their own opinions and would rather depend on what is projected for them Being accustomed to living in the cave moving out into the light is not easy. He has to adjust to bright sunshine light. His eyes slowly open up to accommodated the light and in parallel to accommodate a fundamental view of the world.

The prisoner has a newer view of reality and is transformed. In the light the prisoner comes to see a deeper, clearer and a truthful reality influenced by reason. The sun refers to the good that comes with the beauty and is so eager to share this with his friends. Light is a source of reason and truth because it illuminates everything. In the light one has the basic grounds in which to work on, the moral and logical explanation for anything. Being in the light brings enlightened as one sees things as they are for themselves.

In the cave they accepted the truth as it is but upon seeing the light they can question and ask for explanation. After this the prisoner then returns to the cave back into darkness to try and set free his fellow prisoners. However his efforts are frustrated by the prisoners who cannot grasp his description of his new found reality to the point of wanting to kill him. This shows how people in the society are resistant to any kind of change preferring status quo. Educationalist civil rights activists always try to bring about change but are not always welcome and some have ended up being persecuted.

Plato’s allegory shows our human conditions can be parallel to one being a prisoner till he escapes free and it is only then that one can be able to perceive reality without false perceptions. In conclusion Plato argues that knowledge is acquired through enlightenment when we are exposed to knowledge and wisdom. He believes that leaders need to be educated to be able to lead their followers to full enlightenment. The allegory also gives us a glimpse at the chains in our society that keeps us from seeking for knowledge and wisdom.

Works Cited Cohen, Marc. 2006. 26 october 2011 .