1.

In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato describes the physical world as a “dark place” in which
humans can only perceive objects through the senses. Plato referred to these objects as
phenomena, or weak forms of reality. Thus, the physical world is not a realm where humans
can obtain knowledge of true reality.
Plato uses the cave to symbolise a physical world; a world in which things are not always what
they seem to be, and there is a lot more to it than people think there is. In other words,
“according to Plato, our senses are only picking up shadows of the true reality, the reality of
forms or ideas. This reality can only be accurately discerned through reason, not the physical
senses
Like the prisoners chained in the cave, each human being perceives a physical world that is but a
poor imitation of a more real world. But every so often, one of the prisoners gets free from the
shackles of sense experience, turns around, and sees the light
2. Plato believed that true reality of an object is not found through the senses. According to
Plato, the senses are untrustworthy, and what we perceive through them is just phenomena—
weak forms of reality. Only through abstract thinking, we can learn the “true essence” of an
object.
To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows
of the images
To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows
of the images

And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows?

Yes, he said.

And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were
naming what was actually before them?

To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.

That is certain.

3. For Plato, light represents knowledge and truth

And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will
make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he
will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?
4. Plato describes the process of acquiring knowledge as the evolution from darkness to the
light. In this journey, humans are able to see the essence of truth, or in other words, they are
able to gain an understanding of what is actually real. This process, though painful and
distressing, will at the end offer freedom and enlightenment to those who have acquire
knowledge.

Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him.

And when he remembered where he lived before—the cave-- and the ignorance of the cave
and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would be thrilled by the change, by his
new knowledge and pity them?

Certainly, he would.

And if those who lived in the cave were in the habit of honoring themselves for being the
quickest to observe the passing shadows and to identify which of them went before, and which
went after, and which were together;

5. In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato suggests that “happiness” is the final reward for those who
“leave the darkness of the cave.” Thus, happiness is achieved by gaining an understanding of
what is actually real.
Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as
they do and live after their manner

Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than have false ideas and live in this
miserable manner.

6. The “people chained in the cave” are those who, knowing no better and having no
opportunity to know better, accept phenomena as reality. What they perceive through their
senses, they interpret as real.

You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners.

Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another,
which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave?

True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to
move their heads?
7. For Plato, education focuses on discovering what the soul already knows. To achieve this, a
person should engage in reflection, dialogue, and contemplation to discover the essence of the
soul and, by doing so, what the soul knows and desires.
the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already; and that just as the eye was unable
to turn from darkness to light without the whole body, so to the instrument of knowledge can
only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being
8. Because the philosopher has knowledge, his task is to descend to the cave to help as many
people as possible to gain knowledge, or in other words, to learn the truth.
and then conceive someone saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that
now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real
existence, he has a clearer vision, -what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his
instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them, -- will he not
be confused? Will he not think that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the
objects which are now shown to him?

9- Plato's allegory relates to our current science because it teaches us that what we believe is
not always the truth just like how in science experiments are needed to
fully understand the concept of the idea. Knowing ‘how’ will drive us into the future, but for
that to be justified we must also know ‘why’.
Plato explains this reason of knowing as a way for us to escape mental stagnation and
ignorance. It also alludes to how we approach the unknown, those that we are aware of and
those that we don’t

He will need to get used to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best,
next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves;
then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will
see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day?

And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and
requiring him to name them, -- will he not be confused? Will he not think that the shadows
which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?

Far truer.

And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will
make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he
will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?
10 - The Allegory of the cave relates to today the same as it did 100 years ago. This will never
change.

Man fights, fears, hates and even loves that which he perceives as (or in ) the world, instead of
realizing that the world is reflecting back to him his own belief in duality.

In order to change what he sees he must step out of the “cave/mind”.

I feel this allegory will be “current” or up to date for a long time, as it reflects the idea of the
spiritual or philosophical seeker, who after achieving a “free mind” returns to society and is
confronted with society's worldviews.

This entire allegory, this fable, this story, I said, you may now think about, Glaucon, to the other
discussion we had; the cave is the world of sight, the light of the fire is the sun, the journey up
out of the cave is the journey of the mind to the intellectual world.