Socrates "Allegory of the Cave" Q&A's

 
1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
- The Allegory of the Cave represents the human's (prisoner's) perspective on reality based on what is given to them. It represents the restricted freedom in explored knowledge by their ignorance and complete submission to their comfort zone. The prisoners have no motivation to go out into the light becuase they have been presented a view on what they call reality. They don't know anything other than those shadows, which has settled into a comfortable position in their minds.

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
-The shackles holding the prisoners against the wall is used to describe the prisoner's restriction to knowledge outside the cave and also their ignorance towards that outside world. The shadows represent their reality and its offerings. The fire splaying the shadows signifies the prisoner's only source of light, as if that were their own tiny sun feeding them life.

3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
-It suggests that education also works the same way and enlightenment expands the growth of ideas. School limits the knowledge shown to students, but away from those desk shackles is a world full of the unknown to those learners. Facing reality is a very important aspect to life itself and how we live it. Knowledge is powerful and stripping it from us cuts off our view of reality.

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 the prisoners are completely caught up in their own ignorance of reality. Those shackles are what is physically holding them back, but their mindset also explains why they are holding back in the cave they reside in. What they see before them is the only reality they believe they will only ever need for they know nothing else that sparks a desire for something else.

5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
-Well, for one, school shackles the minds of students by providing only a limited amount of education that the teachers give. They are drawn into a routine that they grow comfortable in, much like other things in society.

6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
-The freed prisoner has seen what is out there and also the darkness that the cave prisoners are in. His perspective is larger and much more vivid than those of the cave prisoners. He prefers the outside light rather than the dim one inside the cave because the outside knowledge he has gained is a lot better than the restricted knowledge in the cave. The cave prisoners know no better becuase of that lack of knowledge. Their perspective is more miniscule and dank compared to the freed prisoner.

7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
-It can occur in a way where those won't experience the outside knowledge and reality out there simply becuase they are addicted to their comfort zone and are too frightened to leave. Either that or they don't understand why they would need to go ino that other world. It can also occur in a way where little information is given that leaves confusion and fear towards those prisoners.

8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
-Is ignorance bliss? NO! But, seriously, you can either argue with the prisoner for the rest of your pitiful life or you can him/her to see the truth on what is out there. The process would be rather tedious, but worth it for the sake of another's intellect and it's saving them from hiding away in a world of resistance.

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
-Oh, yes, I full heartedly agree to this. There is a difference between appearances and reality through perspective. Your appearance can defy what is really reality. Other times, appearances speak the truth, but reality is also an explanation of things. Both appearance and reality is an illusion in life that is hard to describe and distinct from one another.

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
-I actually think Socrates is spot on with his assumption between reality and appearances. It's really how others view it becuase everyone views it differently. I'm not sure what other alternative assumptions there are.