Entry 4

Summary

The Allegory of the Cave

     In the lecture  “Allegory of the Cave” from the Book VII of The Republic by Plato, there is state a conversation between Socrates , who was a philosopher, and Glaucon his follower. Socrates is trying to explain him with an allegory, a parabola, how different we are when we are “enlightened”  meaning educated, and how we are when we lack of it. Socrates starts describing the scenario where are prisoners in knees and their arms are hold by chains and who have been there since they were children. Behind them a fire is blazing and between those two there is a long way, where people are crossing carrying statues, furniture made by wood, stone and various materials, so their shadows are reflected on the wall in front of the prisoners. Then Socrates tells Glaucon to image that one of the prisoners is set free and at the same time asking how it would be? Socrates continues and says that it would be difficult for him to get used to the light of the sun but then he would be amazed by the real world. Even though, Glaucon says that the world that Socrates has created is very strange he seems to understand. Then Socrates adds more and says to him to image that the prisoner goes back to cave and tries to tell his old partners how amazing is the real world and what they sees on the wall are only shadows. However, what the others prisoners would see won’t be more than shadows and would not understand a word of what he says due to the echo that would distort any sound. Finally Socrates asks Glaucon that what would it happen if the man who has been already liberated, were put it in the old situation? What the prisoners would do? Socrates explains that for the prisoners the man won’t be more than a ridiculous man who has lost any sense, and for the man nothing that the prisoners would offer or do, would have any value.