When I read the “Allegory of the Cave”, at first I thought that prisoners were students, and shadows that they saw were “teachers” since they never experienced and saw anything but shadows, they perceived it as a reality. But them I changed my mind, because for them shadow was a reality and a truth. In his book he mentions educations as a truth. Prisoners only saw shadows, and believed that shadows are reality of the world they lived in. Since they never experienced anything outside of the cave, they couldn’t believe a prisoner who escaped earlier. This shows how some people are close-minded and refuse to believe the truth or opposite they believe anything but not the truth. It also shows that we should always get knowledge, because without knowledge life is illusion. This can be used as an example of “teacher and students”. The guy who escaped is a “teacher”, and the prisoners in the cave are “students”. The one who was set free, he tried to enlighten them that there is “more” outside of cave (that’s what the teachers do, try to teach students through their experience and knowledge), but they simply didn’t believe to what he said. Plato also says ‘Education takes for granted that sight is there but that it isn’t turned the right way or looking where it ought to look, and it tries to redirect it appropriately.” For some people whom education was given, they decide either to accept and use that knowledge or to reject it.
Without education people would live in darkness. In my opinion, the purpose of education is to become independent. Education can help us to be financially, emotionally and socially independent, it also helps us to think “outside of the box” and have our own opinion. I know a popular Russian quote “Education is a light, no education-darkness”, it kind of portrays Plato’s idea about education.
Sophiya!
This reflection on Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and on Plato in general is fantastic! You are so insightful about what he is saying about truth (the shadows to the prisoners ARE their truth and reality). I am so impressed that you were able to change your mind about what you thought AS you read the allegory– this means you are a true student.
This idea of not being open to anything outside of the “shadows” (that one takes for granted as the truth) is, I think, a big part of what we face right now in the country and the world– it is very difficult for people to see past their own “reality” and their “own truth” (the “shadows”) and to allow themselves to consider another viewpoint– to do as you have done and change their minds.
Excellent work here.