KWI (Kantonsschule Wiedikon): Introduction to Political Philosophy
Doppelstunde vom 1.2.2021: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Plato: The Allegory of the Cave (The Republic)
1 [Socrates] And now, I said, let me show in a figure
2 how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: -
3 -Behold! human beings living in an underground
4 cave, which has a mouth open towards the light and
5 reaching all along the cave; here they have been from
6 their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained
7 so that they cannot move, and can only see before
8 them, being prevented by the chains from turning
9 round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is
10 blazing1 at a distance, and between the fire and the
11 prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if
12 you look, a low wall built along the way, like the
13 screen which marionette players have in front of
14 them, over which they show the puppets.
15 [Glaucon] I see.
16 [Socrates] And do you see, I said, men passing along
2
17 the wall carrying all sorts of vessels , and statues and
18 figures of animals made of wood and stone and
19 various materials, which appear over the wall? Some
20 of them are talking, others silent.
21 [Glaucon] You have shown me a strange image, and
22 they are strange prisoners.
23 [Socrates] Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only
24 their own shadows, or the shadows of one another,
25 which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the
26 cave?
27 [Glaucon] True, he said; how could they see anything
28 but the shadows if they were never allowed to move
29 their heads?
30 [Socrates] And of the objects which are being carried
31 in like manner they would only see the shadows?
32 [Glaucon] Yes, he said.
33 [Socrates] And if they were able to converse with one
34 another, would they not suppose that they were
35 naming what was actually before them?
36 [Glaucon] Very true.
Illa Spiekerman
Universität Zürich
37 [Socrates] And suppose further that the prison had an
38 echo which came from the other side, would they not
39 be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that
40 the voice which they heard came from the passing
41 shadow?
42 [Glaucon] No question, he replied.
43 [Socrates] To them, I said, the truth would be literally
44 nothing but the shadows of the images.
45 [Glaucon] That is certain.
46 [Socrates] And now look again, and see what will
47 naturally follow if the prisoners are released and
48 disabused3 of their error. At first, when any of them
49 is liberated and compelled4 suddenly to stand up and
50 turn his neck round and walk and look towards the
51 light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress
52 him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which
53 in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then
54 conceive someone saying to him5, that what he saw
55 before was an illusion, but that now, when he is
56 approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned
57 towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, -
58 what will be his reply? And you may further imagine
59 that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they
60 pass and requiring him to name them, -will he not be
61 perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which
62 he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are
63 now shown to him?
64 [Glaucon] Far truer.
65 [Socrates] And if he is compelled to look straight at
66 the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will
67 make him turn away to take and take in the objects of
68 vision which he can see, and which he will conceive
69 to be in reality clearer than the things which are now
70 being shown to him?
71 [Glaucon] True, he now responded.
1
 KWI (Kantonsschule Wiedikon): Introduction to Political Philosophy Illa Spiekerman
Doppelstunde vom 1.2.2021: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Universität Zürich

72 [Socrates] And suppose once more, that he is 113 honors and glories, or envy the possessors of them?
6
73 reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent , 114 Would he not say with Homer11,
74 and held fast until he 's forced into the presence of the 115 Better to be the poor servant of a poor master,
75 sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? 116 and to endure anything, rather than think as they do
76 When he approaches the light his eyes will be 117 and live after their manner?
77 dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all 118 [Glaucon] Yes, he said, I think that he would rather
7
78 of what are now called realities . 119 suffer anything than entertain these false
79 [Glaucon] Not all in a moment, he said. 120 notions12 and live in this miserable manner.
80 [Socrates] He will require to grow accustomed to the 121 [Socrates] Imagine once more, I said, such an one
81 sight of the upper world. And first he will see the 122 coming suddenly out of the sun to be replaced in his
82 shadows best, next the reflections of men and other 123 old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes
83 objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; 124 full of darkness?
84 then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the 125 [Glaucon] To be sure, he said.
85 stars and the spangled heaven8; and he will see the 126 [Socrates] And if there were a contest, and he had to
86 sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the 127 compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners
87 light of the sun by day? 128 who had never moved out of the cave, while his sight
88 [Glaucon] Certainly. 129 was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady
89 [Socrates] Last of he will be able to see the sun, and 130 (and the time which would be needed to acquire this
90 not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will 131 new habit of sight might be very considerable) would
91 see it in his its proper place, and not in another; and 132 he not be ridiculous? Men would say of him that up
9
92 he will contemplate the sun as it is. 133 he went and down he came without his eyes; and that
93 [Glaucon] Certainly. 134 it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any
94 [Socrates] He will then proceed to argue that this is it 135 one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light,
95 who gives the season and the years, and is the 136 let them only catch the offender13, and they would put
96 guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a 137 him to death.
97 certain way the cause of all things which he and his 138 [Glaucon] No question, he said.
98 fellows have been accustomed10 to behold?
99 [Glaucon] Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun
100 and then reason about it.
101 [Socrates] And when he remembered his old
102 habitation, and the wisdom of the cave and his fellow-
103 prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate
104 himself on the change, and pity them?
105 [Glaucon] Certainly, he would.
106 [Socrates] And if they were in the habit of conferring
107 honors among themselves on those who were
108 quickest to observe the passing shadows and to
109 remark which of them went before, and which
110 followed after, and which were together; and who
111 were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the
112 future, do you think that he would care for such

2
 KWI (Kantonsschule Wiedikon): Introduction to Political Philosophy Illa Spiekerman
Doppelstunde vom 1.2.2021: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Universität Zürich

139
Terminology list:

1
blazing (line/l. 10): hell lodernd (a blazing fire)
2
vessel (l. 17): Gefäss
3
disabuse (l. 48): aufklären
4
compel (l. 49): zwingen (compel sb to do sth = jmd zwingen, etwas zu tun)
5
conceive someone saying (l. 54): vernehmen, wie jemand sagt
6
reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent (l. 73): widerwillig/ ungern den steile und robusten Aufstieg
hochgezerrt werden
7
realities (l. 78): das Wahre, die Wirklichkeit, die Realität (im Plural verwendet, aber Singular gemeint als das
‚allgemein Reale/ Wahre/ Wirkliche’)
8
the spangled heaven (l. 85): der (sternenübersähte) Nachthimmel
9
contemplate (l. 92): betrachten, nachdenken über
10
accustom (l. 98): gewöhnen
11
Homer (l. 114): altgriechischer Dichter, der die weltbekannten Werke ‘Ilias’ und ‘Odyssee’ verfasst hat
12
notion (l. 120): Gedanke, Vorstellung
13
the offender (l. 136): der Täter/ die Täterin, der Zuwiderhandelnde/ die Zuwiederhandelnde