Allegory of Cave 4

Socrates influence on Plato was a profound one, and Plato uses Socrates as a major character in many of his works. In The Republic, Plato presents an fable that is utile in illustrating the difficulties and rewards of critical, philosophic analysis. This parable, the altogetheregory of the cave, may be read as a parable of political surmisal itself. Like all parables and allegories, the richness of its teachings lies not in the misprint details of the story, only when rather in the larger philosophical questions implied by the details. Just as the parable of the boy who cried wolf, for example, is not really meant to teach the mechanics of sheep herding or wolf tracking, but instead is a compelling allegory because it teaches us well-nigh issues such as honesty and human needs, same with Platos allegory of the cave. It is not really about caves at all. It is about taking hold with the questions we need to understand in dress to be teach about the world. In The Republic, Plato has the character of Socrates lower the allegory of the cave by telling us that the allegory is supposed to enlarge the process of achieving understanding and enlightenment. This is why the allegory is very useful as a parable of political theorizing, for political opening is a history of the search for enlightenment.

What is the human condition as it pertains to enlightenment or ignorance? In the allegory, Socrates contends that, in order to begin answering this question, we should imagine ourselves living in an underground cave. As residents of this cave, we are unaware of the most fundamental aspects of our environment. For example, we do not know that we are actually inside a cave, for we put on that the surroundings we observe constitute the entire universe. We have no idea that above us is a ground level, a sky, a sun, for we automatically believe that all that we see is all that is real. Our vision in this cave Socrates explains, is very limited. The cave is indistinctly lit, and making out... If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

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