Plato Thought Flashcards
Outline the Parable of the Cave
Underground cave, long tunnel to entrance, prisoners since children, chained so can only see shadows from fire behind them and believe them to be reality. One prisoner released, walks towards fire then dragged upwards and outside, sun painful, then adjusts and can see objects, pleased to have this new knowledge. Returns to cave, eyes have to re-adjust, other prisoners think his journey a waste of time as he struggles and try to kill him as he tries to explain what he now knows.
What does the parable summarise?
That there is a greater reality than our experience of the world, that it is important to make the journey towards understanding, that the journey is not easy.
What do the prisoners represent?
Ordinary people, believing what they have been brought up to believe, minds in a state of illusion.
What do the shadows represent?
Represent the world as it seems to most people, version we have been lead to believe.
What does the journey out of the cave represent?
As the mind changes from ignorance to true knowledge, hard work, can be painful, starts when you go to school or think for yourselves.
What does the sun represent?
Source of truth, ultimate reality, which Plato calls “The Good”; known through reason, not belief.
What does the reaction of the prisoners represent?
How difficult it is to share philosophical ideas, and it can be very risky.
