by Tim Schlueter

Created on: November 24, 2009

The Allegory of the Cave

In book VII of the Republic of Plato Socrates begins by telling a story which is widely referred to as "The Allegory of the Cave." It pulls together many important aspects of Socrates' teachings and uses a metaphor to create a use for them in society. Socrates' addresses four main points via the allegory; the nature of the city, the nature of the philosophic life, the relationship between the city and philosopher, and the possibility and the desirability of the rule of a philosopher. Socrates' often uses figurative cities in his teachings but it is important to view them as they would exist in the real world as well. The allegory is a very useful tool in which to view modern day society and perhaps gain insight into the issue we find in governments today.

The allegory begins with the description of a dark cave in which a number of prisoners are have been held from birth. Their bodies are bound so that they cannot escape, but can only see directly in front of them. A fire is described to be burning from above and behind them. Between the prisoners and the fire there is a road above and here there are "puppeteers" who cast shadows on the wall in front of the prisoners. The puppeteers cast shadows of a variety of things, men, and animals, often associating some images with sounds. Socrates points out that the prisoners would perceive the shadows as reality, as they know of nothing different. This idea can represent a modern day city and the individuals that live within it. What we learn as we grow up is completely based on other perceptions and assumptions on what is true. We are everyday being influenced by the media, our teachers, our parents, and those we choose to spend our time with. It is these people that often cast shadows in front of us and inhibit us from realizing the full truth.

The next part of the allegory speculates on what would happen if one of the prisoners were to be released and venture out of the cave. Socrates asks that if someone showed the prisoner that the shadows, which he thought were real, were actually not, would the prisoner believe them? The allegory continues by telling us that the prisoner is then dragged out of the cave and into the sunlight. He would at first be blinded by the sunlight but his eyes would slowly adjust, just as he would slowly come to see objects and people in their true forms, and come to believe in them as truth. This is how Socrates describes the education, life, and growth of a

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