My “CAVE”:
Everything is Not What It Seems If people were educated properly, they would have a better perspective on things that are in front of them. Before the Common Era, Plato wrote, “The Allegory of the Cave,” in his work The Republic to expose the effect of education and the lack of it in our nature. Plato addressed his theory in the form of a dialogue between a teacher and his student. Socrates, the teacher, explained to Glaucon, the student, how people believe that knowledge comes from what we see and hear in the world, instead of gaining it through philosophical reasoning. Plato stated, “But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of exceptional appears last of all, and is uncovered only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed,” (Plato 1122). In other words, knowledge gained through the senses is no more than an opinion and the only way for one to gain it is through reasoning and facts. Plato’s theory contained five stages concerning …show more content…
However, just like the prisoners, I too was trapped in a “cave” of misunderstanding, my focus was only towards what was in front of me and nothing else. I personally believed that the way I defined my shadows were the right way, but Plato opened my eyes and made me realize that everything is not what it seems. It made me want to change my perspective, as well as, keeping an open mind on what I do not quite
Everything is Not What It Seems If people were educated properly, they would have a better perspective on things that are in front of them. Before the Common Era, Plato wrote, “The Allegory of the Cave,” in his work The Republic to expose the effect of education and the lack of it in our nature. Plato addressed his theory in the form of a dialogue between a teacher and his student. Socrates, the teacher, explained to Glaucon, the student, how people believe that knowledge comes from what we see and hear in the world, instead of gaining it through philosophical reasoning. Plato stated, “But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of exceptional appears last of all, and is uncovered only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed,” (Plato 1122). In other words, knowledge gained through the senses is no more than an opinion and the only way for one to gain it is through reasoning and facts. Plato’s theory contained five stages concerning …show more content…
However, just like the prisoners, I too was trapped in a “cave” of misunderstanding, my focus was only towards what was in front of me and nothing else. I personally believed that the way I defined my shadows were the right way, but Plato opened my eyes and made me realize that everything is not what it seems. It made me want to change my perspective, as well as, keeping an open mind on what I do not quite