Interpretations of Plato's analogy of the cave Flashcards
Understand the meaning behind Plato's analogy of the cave
What do the chained up prisoners represent in Plato’s analogy?
The prisoners are us as humans who are ‘chained’ and kept it the world we discover with our senses.
What do the shadows on the walls of the cave represent?
What we discover in the world by using our senses - they are not true forms of reality, only shadows.
Who does the escapee represent in Plato’s analogy?
The escapee is a philosopher wo can escape the world of forms by disregarding his senses and finding truth by using reason.
Why do the prisoners beat and kill the escapee?
It is a reflection of humans’ want to stay ignorant of true reality and stay in the world of forms where there are only shadows of reality as it is comfortable and familiar.
How does Plato believe we reach true reality outside of the cave?
He believes, if we are philosophers and disregard our senses and use reason to understand the world, we will reach true reality.
