The Meaning Of Life In Plato's Allegory Of The Cave

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People were put on this earth dating back to 1 to 2 million years ago. Since those days we have managed to create civilization, make advancements in language, and in education. One thing that has failed to be accomplished is being able to coexist in total tranquility. It may be unattainable, but strides can be made to get closer to this goal. Although the understanding of the purpose of life in the “Allegory of the Cave” is simple, it provides a meaningful outlook on how to live: one should achieve knowledge and as their duty, share it with others. In the Bible, however, the meaning of life is to serve God and help others. This is clearly shown through Moses and the Israelites. This paper will analyze both of these writings and discuss how …show more content…
In this allegory, prisoners that have been locked up their entire lives facing a stone wall, only seeing shadows and hearing voices. Then one prisoner is suddenly freed and experiences light, stars, water, and life for the first time and is amazed. Plato then describes the denial of the prisoners when writing, “He will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive someone saying to him that what he saw before was an illusion” (Plato, 33). The prisoners in the Cave became so comfortable with their state of being, when the freed one shared his experiences with them they shunned him because it disrupts their reality. Plato writes that, “the business of us who are the founders of the State will be to compel the best minds to attain the knowledge which we have already shown to be the greatest of all- they ascend until they arrive at the good” (Plato, 37). Plato uses this Allegory to comment on the polis of the Greek-Athenian society. People should spend less time in this “world of unknown” because enlightenment is much more promising. Plato suggests that philosophers should be the leader of politics because they have the most knowledge and can use their knowledge to generate proper justice. It is their duties, as the they obtain to report back to society and connect the people with the government. As …show more content…
Moses was originally the son of a slave. His mother gave him away to the Pharaoh’s wife and he became the prince of Egypt. Later in his life he finds out that he is the son of a slave and is then compelled by god to help free the slaves from the authority of the Pharaoh’s. At first Moses was apprehensive and unsure if it this the right thing to do. Moses’s going back home to deliver the Israelites, his people, from slavery is a result of him wanting to serving god. In Exodus chapter 3 God says, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters…. So come I will send you to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus, 3.6). Moses awaits to receive his calling from God. After he finds out that he is the son of a former slave he is saddened, but he never reacts on his emotion to produce change instantaneously. This is the difference between Plato’s proposal and Moses actions. Moses ‘purpose’ is only fulfilled because he is told by divine power to do so. He feels somewhat compelled to help deliver the Israelites morally. However, he takes a while to act on his responsibilities. Moses speaks to god in the form of the Burning Bush for many reasons. For one, it’s symbolizes that god can speak to his children in many forms. Also he shows Moses that he is the ultimate controller of nature, this element is prevalent in the story.

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