Platos Allegory of the Cave

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
It represents the fact that the reality we think we know may not even be close to what the real reality is around us, we just haven't realized or seen it yet.
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
The prisoners represents the ignorance that we have, the sun represents the truth that we don’t know, the shackles represent all the draw backs in life that are holding us back.
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
It suggests that when are given opportunities we must take them.
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
The shackles and the cave suggest that prisoners have no idea about life and what its really about. There are shackles on the prisoner’s mind.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
Well there are so many things in our lives that put shackles on our minds. In my life it's usually my parents and other people that I look up to that I'm learning from. I say this because they are the ones basically telling me what is acceptable in society and what is not, what is good and what is bad, but honestly I really don't know, and won't until I'm out on my own living my own life. Another huge shackle can be technology, specifically the internet. The internet can also be a huge influence because people, especially myself often turn to the internet for answers and we basically believe what we see on the internet, we are blind to the actual evidence behind the answer.
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
The perspective of the freed prisoner is that he has seen what he though was reality, but what it now really is, but the cave prisoner only sees shadows so that is their only known reality.
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
The freed prisoner is confused when he is released from the shackles because all he’s ever known is shadows so that is his reality. So when he enters the real world he must question what is reality.
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Their is a distinction between appearances and reality because the shadows were just the appearance of something but not the true reality of what it actually is.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
An alternative assumption would be that because all the prisoner’s had come to know were the shadows and because of that the shadows are their reality.