Plato, The Republic & Allegory of the Cave
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The very nature of current political and moral philosophy is often inexorably tied with the name and philosophies of the fifth century Greek known to the modern world as Plato. Although Plato had prodigious interests, and his life ended in the middle of the fourth century, the rich nature of Greek culture at the time is not particularly forthcoming regarding his biography. One of the reasons for this is that the code of the time warned against making explicit mention of living contemporaries. The famous orator Isocrates, who was Plato's contemporary, does not mention him at all. Aristotle, who was in his late 30s when Plato died, only alludes vaguely to the philosopher "Plato." In some places, he even refers to Plato as Socrates, and Socrates, Plato's teacher, as the author of such works as the Republic (Edwards, 1967, p. 314).It is, however, that same work, Plato's Republic, upon which this paper will concentrate. That seminal work, so tied up with the basis for modern political philosophy, contains Plato's basic ideas of forms and the way societal and moral laws should be organized. The paper will begin with an brief biography of Plato, turning to an overview of the Republic itself, including some of the most basic premises included, and scholarly commentary on the same. It will move to a brief analysis and explanation on the famous "Allegory of the Cave." The bulk of the paper, however, will deal with Plato's theory of forms, and the way that ideology was expr
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were in an underground cavelike dwelling with its entrance, a long one, open to the light across the whole width of the cave. They are in it from childhood with their heads and necks in bonds so that they are fixed, seeing only in front of them, unable because of the bond to turn their heads all the way around. Their light is from a fire burning far above and behind them, Between the fire and the prisoners there is a road above, along which see a wall, built like the partitions puppet handlers set in front of the human beings and over which they show the puppets . . . (Plato, 1968, p. 193).
Plato continues presenting a detailed picture, and fixed as they are, the prisoners see nothing but shadows moving in front of them. Plato then supposed that one of the prisoners is released from his bonds and made to stand up and turn around. This would be a painful experience, and the prisoner would be both blinded by the light and bewildered at what he can now see. If he were then forced into the daylight, he would complain, and then be unable to see anything of what he was told was real. For him, it would be easiest to look at shadows and remember his previous state and the reality he enjoyed in it. If he ever returned to th
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Approximate Word count = 3166
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page)
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