Socrates and Plato used the Allegory Cave to explain the critical thinking skills of common society by explaining what the imagined reality is supposed to be like and what the actual truth is like the real world outside the cave. They believed life was like being in a cave and that’s what life was about and seeing shadows hidden from the truth. These philosophers both believed that this analogy of the people in the cave not understanding the man who told them about the outside life and there’s living things and things you can touch and feel, and the shadows they were seeing were people walking by with animals and crops and those were living people.
The confusion these philosophers described, was an example they were using when they said how they feel when trying to educate the public. They believe us citizens are very hostile and isn’t willing to learn new things based off our ignorance. Plato argued the masses such as us citizens are too stubborn and ignorant to govern ourselves. The Allegory of the Cave was connected to the “theory of forms” also used by Plato that also explained the shadows inside the cave represented the outside world that are flawed reflections of ideal forms such as words as beauty, and flat. The cave was used for questions such as the birth of knowledge, problem of representation and the nature of reality. These philosophers also wanted to grasp the concept that people rather stay in their comfort zone and settle with the knowledge we already know and stick with comfortable allusions and ask us if we are willing to step out and understand the real world no matter the cost of friends and family to gain new knowledge about this world we have no idea about.
My opinion about this analogy created by these philosophers are that the cave represented most of the people in the world today that is trapped and doesn’t know the half of what this world consists of. I believe I am one of these people that knows about life based on what happens in my shell and what I am taught by those around me. I believe I need to go out and experience what other forms of life can teach me and no matter if I get hurt or lose people along the way I know it would help me grow as an individual. The shadows also represented to me in my opinion what were supposed to think from childhood such as having to go to school to get a good job ad have a lot of money to be happy or getting in relationships to be considered loved and happy. I believe it’s the majority way of thinking because were so focused on what each other thinks and are in this shell trying to compete against one another or be like one another because that’s what were supposed to do. I think if we each were to step out this cave, we can each be unique individuals and see life as beauty and happiness that comes within ourselves and not money or relationships. I believe us young ones can also mature faster by figuring out life ourselves and not be taught and condoned to how life should be or think the truth comes from people that experienced things and are passed down to the next generation.
The Allegory Cave concept was essential on explaining how people understand the world based off their small ways of thinking and provided reasoning as to why people should step out and face reality and not be so comfortable with where they stand. I believe its an important concept that everyone should follow because it would also help individuals grow and not be so quick to have hard times or disappointment because they will realize there is more to life than we think.
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