Revise the Essay (the allegory cave)

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The Allegory of The Cave by Plato

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato

ShinHoon Choi

Sean P. Ireland

English 1

03-26-2014

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato

Plato views the Allegory of the Cave as a clarification of the education of his soul with the sole purpose of enlightening him. According to Socrates, the reflections on the wall are as close as the chained men get to seeing the truth. He goes ahead to elaborate how the philosopher is similar to a prisoner who is released from the cave and comes to the realization that the reflections are nothing close to the reality. This is so because a free man is able to compare and contrast between a reflection and the real object, which enables them to know that these two are not alike. In this paper, we attempt to analyze the essay using the process approach, which will enhance our understanding of the essay as well as its inner meaning. We shall see the outcomes of Plato’s education by a philosopher.

Plato argues with Socrates and insists that they should return to the cave and experience everyday issues such as power struggles and politics. The Allegory is against individuals who over depend on their mind. The chains that are used to bind the captives are the senses. The Fun of this essay is to attempt to put all the occurrences of the cave into the reader’s explanation. Alternatively, what is the sunlight, the fire, the scuffle out of the cave, and the weapons carried by the guards. Socrates, immediately after the allegory indicated that the fire stood for the sun and the cave was the world, he argued that the prisoner’s path was people’s souls ascent to wisdom (Plato, p.43). The two were at the lowermost part of the ladder of wisdom and knowledge. The contemporary world enables us to see unrealistic things, for instance perfect circles and parallel lines. Socrates perceives this as a better understanding of the universe abstract certainty or the intelligible universe. He associates this abstract certainty with the wisdom that emanates from thinking and understanding. On the physical perspective, our universe of sight, the phases of development are the first identification of images followed by the identification of items. According to Socrates, the slaves first identify the shadows of the walls prior to the weapons carried by the guards. To comprehend the theoretical reality one needs a special understanding in mathematics and lastly the ideals or forms of all things; that is the universe beyond the cave. However, the comprehension of the physical universe is replicated in the minds of human beings by their means of reasoning.

Imagination comes first followed by realistic and unfounded views and believes. Views and opinions create a basis for wisdom through reasoning that is achieved through mathematics. The identification of the types is reflected by the level of understanding in the forms of reasoning. The basis to the scuffle for knowledge is the thinking tactics developed through mathematics as they are used to enable individuals to understand themselves better. The shadows on the walls of the cave change repeatedly and are of little value, but the truth outside is never altered and that makes it essential. The principles are primarily our perceptions of justice, love, courage, friendship among other invariable qualities. There are four forms of idols that torment the mind of human beings (Plato, p.62). To these four forms, it is essential to allocate them names i.e. the first one is theatre idols, the second one is tribe idols, the third one is cave idols and lastly market place idols. The formation of axioms and ideas by factual orientation is no doubt the right solution to be used for the clearance and avoidance of idols.

The Tribe idols have their base in human being’s nature and in the race or ethnic group of people. For it is a deceitful allegation that the reason of human beings is the measure of things. On the other hand, all views as well of intellect as the brain are in line with the measure of a person and not in line with the measure of the globe. In addition, the understanding of man is like a deceitful mirror, which gets irregular rays, discolors, and distorts the manner of things by mixing its own kind with it. The cave idols are idols of the specific man. For each man has a dent or curve of their own, which discolors and refracts nature’s light; either owing to his own peculiar and proper kind or to his conversation and education with others. The spirit of human beings is a variable thing and is filled with agitation.

The market place idols were formed because of association and intercourse between human beings and the other. It is by treatise that human beings associate, and words are executed as per the trepidation of the vulgar. Hence, unfit and ill choice of terms during communicating hinders the level of understanding. Finally, there are the idols of theatre, which are those idols that have moved into the brains of human beings from certain philosophies, and from wrongful use and illustrations of laws. The understanding and contemplation of human beings ensures that all things are at a consensus with it. Plato refers to a group of men who have been captives for an immense part of their lives, they are bound to the walls of a cave by chains they constantly see reflections of things passing and start to describe the forms of the shadows they see (Plato, p.47).

Plato uses this essay to enlighten readers and people of the entire globe that there is a difference in the way we perceive things. His use of chained slaves makes the essay more realistic and fun to read and understand. Socrates combines various writing and philosophical technics to ensure that his message is communicated loud and clear.

Reference

Plato, . The Allegory of the Cave. Brea, CA: P & L Publication, 2010. Print.