He states that we should consider the possibility of releasing one of those in chains to stand up and turn to face the light from the exit of the cave. He points out that we believe and think we see reality by watching the shadows on the wall. Plato compares us to those who are chained to the cave wall in his metaphor. Those that are the best at guessing are granted with honors and get more acclaim than the others. So they try to guess which shadows shall past next and in what order. Those in chains have no other things to do except for talking about the shadows. This makes it appear to the chained ones as if the shadows are real and talking. The voices echo in the cave while the shadows dance on the wall. The chained ones are observing a blank wall and can see, because of the fire, the shadows of themselves and of that which is happening behind them.Īs they are walking by, some of the people behind the cover are talking to each other while others are silent. They are walking past, carrying stone and wooden statues of men and animals, etc. The only source of light in the cave is a campfire.īetween people and the fire, there is a cover behind which there are other people that go about on their own business. Because of the chains, they cannot see anyone besides themselves nor can they see the cave’s exit, which is directly behind their back. In it, there are people who have been chained and are unable to turn to any other direction except for the inner wall they are facing.
It is quite vivid and serves as an important example. It is found in the seventh book of dialogue in “The Republic”. Plato once demonstrated his knowledge with his so-called allegory of the cave. He is one of the most influential figures in the course of the development of modern western society. Plato left a lasting mark on the development of many minds that came after him. Plato’s best-known work is “The Republic”– a book in which he wrote about a utopian image of an ideal society that would be ideally run by philosophers.
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