How does it apply to philosophy, to society, and to you?
The Allegory of the Cave applies directly towards the idea of philosophy, the way that it parallels philosophy’s theme and the portrayal over its existence is clear. The constant social standard’s that many adhere to is like the shadows on the wall, and the man who is able to see the outside world after ascending up the cave wall is similar to a philosopher trying to reach the answers to all the questions he asks. Philosophy and philosophical thinking has been criticized since the time people began to philosophize. This is very similar to the way the prisoners in the cave treated the man who had seen the outside world once he returned to confinement, they said his eyes were ruined, and thought he was foolish. This of course is much the opposite of the truth as he now had much more knowledge and a greater understanding of their world then the other prisoners. I think this blissful ignorance is exactly how philosophy is judged and has been portrayed over its existence.
Now, as stated previously the prisoners in The Allegory of the Cave seem very similar to that of society, in a way they are one in the same. The shadow’s that the prisoners see over and over again is the same as society’s standards for many different things that it has created. The same images shown over and over again or the same things being said to you over and over again, just because they are said or shown repeatedly does not necessarily make them facts. When the man in the Allegory of the cave is being lead out of the cave towards the light, this is to a philosopher the idea of him trying to work his way to the truth. It’s almost as if society has become blind to the idea of something different. So really, the prisoners in the cave replicate the way society acts towards philosophy and its teachings.
I think that the way this story the Allegory of the cave applies to me, is by me learning from it the message and the way that it teaches. I think that this story really is excellently written and when read shows almost, the philosophy of philosophy. Everyone should definitely read this story if they already haven’t. This being my first time reading the allegory of the cave I really enjoyed the imagery and the overall message within it. I had a thought that if maybe more people read this and began that journey up the cave wall that maybe, the journey would become easier with help from every different thinking person along the way. So really I’m glad that I got a chance to read such an excellent parable of philosophy. This Parable teaches differently, but in a way that is very intriguing. Though, this story should not be a theme to philosophy, this story should be a theme to the way humans apply themselves to life, everyday striving to find more in the world that you and I live in. In conclusion, the allegory of the cave applies to me in the way that I learn from its message, but it should apply to everyone to get the full effect of that message.
