The Allegory of the Cave

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bright and allows shadows to be cast onto the wall. Below this fire is a small trench where the others of the cave lie. Here they hold up puppets and objects, casting shadows onto the wall. They essentially create the reality that the chained down live in, however, those chained down do not know this. They know only of the shadows on the wall and these shadows interactions with each other. If they see the shadow of a book, they will say to one another, in their own language, "look at the book on the wall ( The Republic)." They will not know that it is only a shadow, an image of the real object that is held up behind them to cast the appearance of a book onto the wall. They will only see what appears to be the real book in front of them.

One day the shadow makers free one of the chained down individuals. At first, he is hesitant, he does not understand what is happening. Their intentions are to bring him out of the cave. As they lead him past the fire and he sees the others casting ...

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the actual interaction of humans throughout the education process. When Plato wrote this story, he was mainly thinking about a philosophical education, however, in some ways, this tale tells the story of the beginnings of all education.

The philosophical education that Plato speaks of is that which he lays out in The Republic. Plato tells this tale in order to show people what truly happens to the philosopher. In his day, Plato saw many such as Socrates find a higher truth through education and philosophy. He then saw these people try to bring this enlightenment to the general public, try to re-enter the cave. Plato saw people such as Socrates try to bring the average person the ...

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