Enlightenment Vs. Ignorance Essay

Total Length: 596 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 2

Plato's Cave Allegory

The allegorical account presented by Plato in the form of "The Cave" is very informative and educating if assessed and looked at from the proper perspective. The author of this report is to look at the movements and reactions of the mobile person in the cave. Plato is obviously making a point about life and how best to experience and learn from it. The author of this report shall give a quick summary of the movements of the man and what occurs around him and what changes greatly when his gaze is removed from the wall. While opinions and interpretations of this allegory may vary, the overall message Plato was trying to communicate is pretty clear.

Before getting into the analysis of what precisely Plato was trying to say through the cave allegory, it should be first be summarized what precisely happened and was explained so that the interpretations can be backed up with the applicable context.
At first, there are a line of people that are chained in front of a wall in a way that they cannot move around and their gaze is affixed only on the wall. After this, there is a fire built as well as a walkway. Items then pass between the prisoners and the fire and this causes shadows to cast upon the wall in full view of the prisoners. However, the prisoners see only the shadows. They do not know anything beyond that as these people have been imprisoned since childhood (Plato, 2010).

One of the prisoners is then freed and sees not only the light and the objects but eventually leaves the cave entirely and comes to experience everything else in life. There is then a clear contrast and compare between what the freed person now perceives….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Enlightenment Vs Ignorance" (2014, September 02) Retrieved May 29, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/enlightenment-ignorance-191515

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Enlightenment Vs Ignorance" 02 September 2014. Web.29 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/enlightenment-ignorance-191515>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Enlightenment Vs Ignorance", 02 September 2014, Accessed.29 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/enlightenment-ignorance-191515