Brian Joseph

64809

Plato’s Theory Summary

Plato compares human life on Earth to an ignorant and
miserable existence in a deep cave. People's legs and necks
are chained, making it impossible for them to move or see
around them. There is fire above and behind them, and all
they can see are shadows falling over the walls, as if they
were watching a puppet show.

Because of their limited circumstances, whatever they see

on the wall is taken to be the truth. They have no knowledge
of the outside world because they have been in this
condition for so long. Thus, for them, the images on the wall
and the echo of various voices are the ultimate truth.

When one of them is set free and dragged up to the cave's mouth, he experiences sharp pains.
First, his freed limbs hurt, then the toil of climbing upward hurts, and finally, the daylight of the
outside real world dazzles his eyes. He must become accustomed to his new surroundings and
objects. As his eyes adjust, he starts to see the truth. As a result, he considers himself fortunate
to have had this opportunity to see the truth, and he feels sorry for his fellow inmates who are
still living in that dark, ignorant world.

According to Plato, the cave represents the world of the senses, which prevents us from
ascending to the world of reality. The upward journey represents the soul's ascension into the
intellectual world. The concept of good appears at the end of this world of knowledge. Once
this good is obtained, man gains all that is beautiful and right in ethical terms, as well as reason
and truth in intellectual terms.

Plato believes that it is the duty of legislators to employ such intellectuals in the management
of public affairs. Only the selfish and ambitious are interested in administration at the moment.
Such people are more concerned with their own satisfaction than with public service. That is
why a state governed by many selfish people is always in turmoil. If those intellectuals are
drawn into public service, they will jointly govern the state, ensuring peace, order, and
progress.