Parable of the Cave

The Parable of the Cave by Plato is a very well written story. It has many well-structured arguments and thoughts throughout the story. My main focus is on the role of education and understanding and how it is a struggle at first, but after awhile it gets easier. How the prisoners were held within cave by lies and last, how appearances are deceiving.

The first point made to us from the Parable of the Cave is the role of education. In the Parable of the cave the people who believe that the shadows projected on the wall is true reality are uneducated. The prisoner that was led out of the cave represents the education process. Since the prisoner was dragged out of the cave, this shows us that education is very struggling. But when the prisoner began to understand and was able to look up and see the light, this shows us that he or she then had true wisdom. Just as the prisoner had an easier time seeing the light after awhile, we also have an easier time learning as time goes along. I agree with Plato on his description of education. I do believe that education is hard to start but it gets easier as

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The prisoners believed that the shadows projected from the fire onto the wall were true reality. Plato says that general terms of our language are not names of physical objects that we can see. They are actually names of things we can’t see, things that we can only grasp with our minds. Plato says that we cannot escape the shadows of our own lies, that we have to be guided to the truth by someone or something else, just like the prisoner who was guided from the cave.

The second argument that the Parable of the Cave points out is that is that the prisoners were held within the cave by lies. Plato’s opinion on education and understanding can be supported in society today by the fact that children and adolescents still struggle to learn new things but as time goes on it easier and they start to understand, just like the prisoner and the light analogy. I believe that we are held by lies in our society. The prisoners just ignored, laughed and ridiculed him like he was crazy. Finally, I must say I whole-heartedly agree with Plato’s views and positions in the Parable of the Cave.

In conclusion, I feel that Plato’s Parable of the Cave discusses issues that could easily be associated with today’s society. Just like the prisoner had a hard time looking up at the light when he first came out of the cave, but after awhile it was easier for him or her.

Furthermore, Plato argues that the appearance of the shadows on the wall seen by the prisoners is what they believe is reality: so if the prisoners talked, what would they talk about? If something appeared behind the prisoners and the shadow was projected on the wall would the prisoners be talking about the object or the shadow not the actual object? They could give that object a name but they would be naming the shadow. I know I had a hard time comprehending what I read and also how to pronounce words correctly, but as I got older and went from grade to grade and the finally into college it was much easier. It’s very hard from the start learning how to read and write or even spell.

Approximate Word count = 767
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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