PLATO'S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

1. According to Socrates, the Allegory of the Cave represents the chains that people allow themselves to be fettered by while others choose a life of knowledge.

2. The key elements of imagery are the cave, which represents the knowledge that is directly fed to us. The light which could represent the abundance of knowledge that we must search for. The sun is the knowledge that we must seek for ourselves and discover.

3. The allegory suggests that we sometimes allow our knowledge to be controlled. We often accept what we hear and don't question it and don't search for other possibilities. We can only be enlightened if we seek outside knowledge.

4. The image of shackles represents the narrow mindedness of the prisoners. They are essentially chained down by their limited knowledge. They are missing out on so much because they lack so much knowledge.

5. I think that traditions can shackle us in some ways. We are so used to doing one thing and believing what our parents believe that sometimes we don't go seek new knowledge to form our own opinions.

6. The freed prisoner is enlightened and understands the world on a different level while the chained prisoner doesn't even have enough knowledge to leave the cave.

7. Lack of clarity can occur from either coming out of the light or going into the light. If you come from the dark cave you will be blinded by the light (knowledge). If you come from the light into the darkness you will not be satisfied with the dark.

8. Prisoners become free when they decide to leave the cave. The knowledge outside the cave is readily available but the prisoner has to gain it.

9. I agree that their is a distinction between appearance and reality. Appearance can be influenced by personal judgments. Also, just because you can't see something it doesn't mean it isn't real.

10. If Socrates is incorrect, then people will continue to be shackled because they will continue to view appearances as reality without questioning it. People will draw false conclusions and have a narrow view of the world.