Question

Topic 1: Plato – the allegory of the cave

Plato is inspired by his teacher Socrates, but builds a grand positive theory of true knowledge and the just society. Plato’s “Allegory of the cave” (~380BC) introduces many of Plato’s central ideas and also many of his personal and philosophical rationales.

Discuss your own reaction to the allegory – do you think Plato is making some valid points - and do they have contemporary relevance?

Answer 1

Plato definitely makes several valid points with respect to the allegory. As a human race, I feel that we are, today, in the cave for a different reason. As our society is progressing, it appears as though a culture of maximising one’s own self interests is also increasing. We are exposed to more and more different ideas and beliefs, and it is quite probable our concepts of power, money and success being to overlap and even become the same shadows. These forces are now the shadows that we mistake to be reality and take pride in pursuing.