The Allegory of the Cave
In the Allegory of the Cave, the character Socrates states this about the people living in cave society, “To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.” (Plato, The Allegory of the Cave”) According to Plato, people accept truth as whatever they see, whatever they grow up with. This idea is very simple, but very revolutionary- and it applies to ancient and modern life. In this cave society, there is nothing known to the people but the shadows. It is the same in ancient Athens, where Plato studied, and in modern countries. Although on different scales, ancient times and modern times have values and traditions, and they are widely accepted as truth. Any questioning or disagreement …show more content…
The first being pride, the second being, pity, and the third being disbelief on the cave peoples’ part. In the allegory, Socrates states “And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the cave and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?” (Plato, The Allegory of the Cave) The person leaving the cave would only return with more knowledge that they would only congratulate themselves on. This pride just causes them to pity those who live in the cave for not being as knowledgeable. Also, when the liberated person returns to the cave with more knowledge (new truths), no one will believe him. There would be absolutely no reason for them to, because all they know is their own truth. The returned liberated person would only be left to suffer in the cave with their new truths.
The philosopher Socrates is a character in the Allegory of the Cave, and someone who was affected by the cave mentality taught in the allegory. Socrates, an Ancient Athenian philosopher who was the first to question Athenian values, traditions, and religion- he questioned Athenian life itself. Though this curiosity and constant prodding of Athenian citizens to debate was not physically harmful- Athenian leaders knew that this new way of thinking could cause damage to their society. Socrates saw the sun, a greater
In the Allegory of the Cave, the character Socrates states this about the people living in cave society, “To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.” (Plato, The Allegory of the Cave”) According to Plato, people accept truth as whatever they see, whatever they grow up with. This idea is very simple, but very revolutionary- and it applies to ancient and modern life. In this cave society, there is nothing known to the people but the shadows. It is the same in ancient Athens, where Plato studied, and in modern countries. Although on different scales, ancient times and modern times have values and traditions, and they are widely accepted as truth. Any questioning or disagreement …show more content…
The first being pride, the second being, pity, and the third being disbelief on the cave peoples’ part. In the allegory, Socrates states “And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the cave and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?” (Plato, The Allegory of the Cave) The person leaving the cave would only return with more knowledge that they would only congratulate themselves on. This pride just causes them to pity those who live in the cave for not being as knowledgeable. Also, when the liberated person returns to the cave with more knowledge (new truths), no one will believe him. There would be absolutely no reason for them to, because all they know is their own truth. The returned liberated person would only be left to suffer in the cave with their new truths.
The philosopher Socrates is a character in the Allegory of the Cave, and someone who was affected by the cave mentality taught in the allegory. Socrates, an Ancient Athenian philosopher who was the first to question Athenian values, traditions, and religion- he questioned Athenian life itself. Though this curiosity and constant prodding of Athenian citizens to debate was not physically harmful- Athenian leaders knew that this new way of thinking could cause damage to their society. Socrates saw the sun, a greater