The allegory of the cave represents a person's progression from a child to an adult. Plato makes note of several different things people need to master or learn in life. Leaving the cave and discovering reality is Plato's way of describing the psychological development and maturation of human beings.
             Plato's allegory of the cave is based around these men living in a cave. "Since childhood the cave dwellers have had their legs and necks shackled so as to be confined to the same spot. They are further constrained by blinders that prevent them from turning their heads" (514 b). Behind them there is a fire, several puppets, and hidden puppeteers. The only thing these men can see is the shadows cast by the puppets. So their entire lives these men believe these shadows to be the only reality. Then one day one of the prisoners breaks free and flees the cave. When he reaches the opening he is blinded because his eyes have never been exposed to such light. At first he would "see shadows; next, reflections in the water of men and other objects. Then he would see objects themselves" (516 a). In time the prisoner would fully understand reality. Once the prisoner absorbed all of this wisdom he would want to return to the cave to tell those still confined about the outside w!
             orld and reality but he would be ill equipped to do so.
             Plato goes on to explain how studying subjects such as arithmetic, geometry, solids, astronomy, and dialectic are necessary for acquiring true knowledge. Arithmetic is essential for understand sense perception and how its contradiction provokes thought and reflection. A sense of reality is achieved through the study of geometry. "It would tend to draw the soul upward toward truth. Further, we know that a man who has studied geometry is a better student across the board than one who has not" (527 b-c). Astronomy is the study of solids in motion, and "only by practicing the true science of ...