Idol Of The Cave Analysis

Improved Essays
Likewise, Bacons express the clear need to break free from our chains that bind us to the contemporary world and seeing the truth by discovering our identities. The importance of self-discovery through the soul is expressed in his quote “The spirit of man is, in fact, a thing variable and full of perturbation” (Bacon 883). The variability of the spirit is symbolized in the Idol of the Cave which refers to our egos as we discover and understand the light (true knowledge) we are able to Hence, both authors believe that by understanding ourselves, we are able to reach an epiphany or awakening in which our soul and body become one to form a new being who is able to analyze as well as determine right from wrong. This is encompassed in Plato’s quote …show more content…
As Plato and Bacon establish their claims, about the infatuation of human nature to perceive everything and believe anything that is solely based on our senses has led to the barriers such as the wall or the idols blocking our search for the true source of knowledge. By establishing the senses as a natural standard for evaluating “true” knowledge, true knowledge can never be comprehended because it extends beyond a physical realm as emphasized in Plato’s essay as well as the quote “If he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have the pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take refuge in the objects of vision which he can see” (Plato 869). Furthermore, both authors question the human, though process as a feeble and mysterious requiring a divine power, such as a soul as a sense or moral compass to discriminate between right and wrong. However, Bacon raises the question of what should one believe to be a true source of knowledge as a scientist, he believes knowledge can be obtained through studies and experiments that can be varied and controlled. However, he doesn’t deny the fact that the spiritual or a divine power as highlighted in his quote “Knowledge might arise from inspiration and the internal illumination of the consciousness, but this illumination …show more content…
Starting with the metaphorical description of the cave that binds us to the categorical classification of the human characteristics and weakness into idols. Stress, the same fact that as a society we have become more reliant on false glorifications that extended our egos and discolor our true-selves to become accepted by society and pretended that we have fully realized our identities, because we don’t want to break the trend of following in the footsteps of the others rather than carving our own path, our own

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Since the dawn of time, societies have argued how, where and what is the source of our inherent knowledge. Whether it was a gift brought forth by a divine power or a part of our self-discovery journey. Through, the ages, many notable writers such as Plato and Bacon tried to provide their own answer to the age-old question. For example, Plato a profound Athenian philosopher, known for his literary work, The Republic, offers a satisfactory answer to what he believes to be the stem of knowledge and the barriers that block us from obtaining that knowledge in regards to the state of the human mind, through his short story “The Allegory of the Cave” about a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon who acts an interlocutor. Additionally, Bacon’s essay titled “The Four…

    • 1804 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I think that the main points illustrated by Plato's Allegory of the Cave are that people only know what they experience and only choose to accept what they have experienced, people who have knowledge have a responsibility to share it and that ignorance is bliss. The men trapped in the cave demonstrate how people will only believe what they have experienced by shunning the man who tries to tell them of the outside world. They aren't willing to accept that there is more to life than the wall and shadows in front of them. Plato believes that even the world we live in may just be another wall that is blocking us from seeing the truth.…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Plato in The Allegory of the Cave explores how some live in the illusion of what life is while others live the moment due to dynamics regarding freedom (Honer, Francis and Plato 57). This essay explores the understanding and interpretation of what it is to be a human according to Jefferson and Plato.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The fictional story the Allegory of the Cave can be interpreted in many different ways in the modern world. The way which I will try to interpret the Allegory of the Cave is the following. The prisoners as the Greek intemperate are the iron man just as humanity in this generation. The puppeteers are the government. The shadows that the fire cast, which puppeteer's show in the walkway represents what the government wants to show the citizen or (the prisoners of society).…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Truman show directed by Peter Weir and the dialogue “Allegory the Cave” written by Plato, both represent what an individual sees as the only truth when they are controlled by the man made truth. In the Truman show, it's a show where Truman Burbank has lived his whole life being broadcasted 24 hours, living in a false world without knowing the truth . Similar to the “Allegory the Cave” in where Plato explains 2 individuals are chained to a wall since childhood and all they see is shadows by the fire, the prisoners only see the shadows as the only truth they know. Both, The Truman Show and “Allegory the Cave” demonstrate how both individuals experience the false reality and experience the same journey.…

    • 125 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the stories, What the Best College Students Do by Ken Bain, The Allegory of the Cave by Plato, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass, and The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty by Dan Ariely, the authors convey the importance of the freedom of learning and the different approaches to learning. Each author has a unique way of getting their point across; some through violence and some through experiments. The connection made between these stories is that every individual has the right to learn, and it is important to understand their approaches to learning. In an excerpt of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass, he describes at the beginning that he was born into slavery and there was no escape.…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The Allegory of a Cave” is a dialogue between Socrates and Plato’s brother Glaucon, which the latter narrates, where Plato crafts a theory regarding the human perception. Plato strongly believed the fact that knowledge that is gained through the senses can be termed as an opinion only. He understood the school of thought that it was only possible to get real knowledge through the assistance of philosophical reasoning. This theory on human perception closely embodies the experience that Frederick Douglass faced in 1800’s America. In “Learning how to Read and Write” Frederick Douglass was able to personify Plato’s philosophical views on how concrete truth can alter one’s reality and propel them toward enlightenment.…

    • 699 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The written texts, “Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome” and “The Allegory of the Cave,” express the abilities to gain knowledge and to think as an individual. “Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome” describes a psychological disorder that disables a person to create their own opinions. Being able to control your own ideas and opinions is important to form one’s own identity. “The Allegory of the Cave” uses symbolism to describe a theory about two different types of knowledge. In this text, Plato tells a story about a prisoner who escapes from being chained up inside a cave, discovers the outside world, and then returns to attempt to teach the other prisoners about the truth.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Alisha Saxena Philosopher, Plato, in his published work, Allegory of the Cave, describes a dialogue with Glaucon about the importance of truth and human nature. This in depth discussion about reality is expanded on throughout Plato’s book, The Republic. Plato uses The Republic in order to convey how morality and virtue is of utmost importance. Plato’s purpose of Allegory of the Cave is to communicate that our perceptions of the truth are limited, and how the truth might not always be what is predicted or imagined. He further supports this purpose by using extended metaphors, intense, connotative diction, and an eloquent, questioning tone.…

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In order to gain a better understanding of how truth is discovered rather than manufactured, one must examine the philosophy of Plato. A quintessential concept in Plato’s philosophy is the idea of being versus Being. In Plato’s Republic, the philosopher claims that there are two different realms within reality: the visible world of being, and the intelligible world of Being. In the world of Being, there exists what Plato calls the Forms. The Forms are Plato’s First Principle; he claims that the Forms are perfect, eternal, and non-changing objects in the intelligible realm, and these are the essences of the physical world; these are how things ought to be (INCLUDE CITATIONS).…

    • 1520 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this paper, I’m going to first give a possible reason to why Judith Stark says combining platonism and Christianity is a daunting task. Then, I will give some examples from Augustine and Hildegard’s writing in which I notice the influence of Plato. The writings of plato that I have read so far teach me one thing. I notice in order to really understand the reading very well, I need to fade away any memory or prior knowledge I had before, either that is concerning my understanding of life, death or anything else.…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Thus, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave lays out a clear framework for how to overcome our submissive nature and achieve enlightenment, while also making the reader well aware of the potential consequences should we stray from this…

    • 1904 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Inception and the Allegory of the Cave The movie “Inception” directly reflects Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. The idea that through a dream enlightenment becomes possible which directly relates to changing a way of thinking. The hero in the movie Cobb has demons to exercise from his former way of thinking In order to achieve his goal of “reality”.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    An allegory can use a situation or event in order to reveal a deeper meaning or lesson. Allegories can act as analogies that point out logical inconsistencies and cause one to reflect and even question their own way of life. In Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” Plato intends to point out the prison-like obedience that humans who are “in the cave” have to their lifestyle, and the difficult choice of giving up this lifestyle in search of something more. This allegory displays the confining nature of life without wonder, or philosophy, and the steps – which can be mentally demanding – to take toward enlightenment. Plato writes this allegory during the Classical Age in Greek history.…

    • 1775 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Bacon believed that truth would be delivered to humans through collected, perceptible data. The first idol Bacon described was the Idol of the Tribe which embodies when humans cannot reason clearly due to the way they have chosen to see the world. One’s imagination is derived from what a person experiences and how they…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays