The allegory of the cave reminds us that we should question the reality that we fail to understand because we’ve come to accept the reality that is presented to us rather than seeking out beyond our limitations.
The story “Allegory of the Cave,” by the Greek philosopher Plato, Plato tells a story about cave people who are chained up and facing a wall. Their reality is what is being reflected from behind them and are unaware of what goes on beyond the cave. Through the Allegory of the Cave, Plato is trying to tell us about how the human perception of reality is limited, and the only way to achieve a true understanding is through being educated and brought out of what you’ve become accustomed to. Seeking knowledge.
Plato’s central idea in
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This can be seen in lines 258-264. “Then, I said, the business of us who are the founders of the state will compel the best minds to attain that knowledge which we have already shown to be the greatest of all– they must continue to ascend until they arrive at the good…”. In this quote, Plato is suggesting that those who are able to see beyond the shadows and understand the true nature of reality are the ones who are truly knowledgeable and wise. Which he refers to those, like himself, as the founder of state. The philosopher, who has the ability to understand the true source of knowledge and truth, is the one who should pass along that information to the freed prisoners which later those freed prisoners go back to the cave and spread what they’ve learned. Another example of this is in lines 293-294. Plato says, “but we have brought you into the world to be rulers of the hive, kings of yourselves and the other citizens, and have educated you far better and more perfectly than they have been educated…”. In addition to the previous explanation, Plato is trying to show here that the philosopher, who has the ability to see beyond the shadows and understand true reality is qualified to lead society. By educating the freed prisoners and trying to transition them to have the position; the authority to govern and lead the ‘hive’, this creates a more wise and knowledgeable