Plato´s Allegory of

the Cave

11TH GRADE
 Justified True Belief

TRUE BELIEF
The knowledge claim is true The knowledge claim is a
rather than false. It matter of conviction. We
corresponds to the real world. must own our knowledge.
It is a fact.

JUSTIFIED
The knowledge claim is justified with adequate evidence.
Justification requires coherence with previous data and clarity
with regard to language and logic. There can be no contradiction
or strong counter evidence.
 Allegory

▶ What is an allegory?
▶ a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete
or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise
of another.
▶ a symbolical narrative

▶ What is Symbolism?
▶ It is the use of an object, person, situation or word to represent
something else, like an idea, in literature.
 Symbols

Identify the following symbols and their meaning while watching the video on Plato’s
“The Allegory of the Cave.”
▶ The Cave:
▶ The Shadows:
▶ The escaped prisoner:
▶ The Sun:
▶ His intellectual journey:
▶ The other prisoners reaction:
▶ The Prisoners:
▶ The prisoner’s chains:
▶ The shadows in the cave:
▶ The Fire:
▶ The one who releases the prisoners: The prisoners who are released:
▶ The journey out of the cave:
▶ The return to the cave:
▶ The rejection by the other prisoners when the released prisoner returns:
Allegory of the Cave
 What is Plato trying to say

▶ Education: nothing but the forcing of thoughts into the

minds of children.
▶ Each person has within himself the ability to think.
▶ If one does not understand, this is because one is held by
the fetters.
▶ Whenever the soul is bound by the fetters of suffering,
pleasure, etc. it is unable to contemplate through its own
intelligence the unchanging pattern of things
 Symbols

▶ The Cave represents people who believe that knowledge comes from what we see and
hear in the world – empirical evidence. The cave shows that believers of empirical
knowledge are trapped in a ‘cave’ of misunderstanding.
▶ The Shadows represent the perceptions of those who believe empirical evidence ensures
knowledge– shadows of the truth.
▶ The escaped prisoner represents the Philosopher, who seeks knowledge outside of the
cave and outside of the senses. The philosopher who does not at first understanding
reality and will eventually be killed for his beliefs.
▶ The Sun represents philosophical truth and knowledge
▶ His intellectual journey represents a philosophers journey when finding truth and
wisdom
▶ The other prisoners reaction to the escapee returning represents that people are scared
of knowing philosophical truths and do not trust philosophers.
 Symbols

▶ The Prisoners: The prisoners represent an ignorant, unenlightened, and narrow

society. This would comprise of those who have not yet understood the meaning of
life.
▶ The prisoner’s chains: The chains are symbolic of limitations that pull us away
from the truth. 
▶ The shadows in the cave: The cave shadows are ambiguous and unclear, distorted,
without any true form. Plato successfully utilizes the shadows to demonstrate those
who cannot see an accurate, clear reality.
▶ The Fire: The fire is the sun to the prisoners - the foundation of misinterpretation
and ambiguity.  Fire represents many things – media, society
▶ The one who releases the prisoners: The savior is the educator and master of
philosophy, perhaps Plato/Socrates himself.
 Symbols

▶ The prisoners who are released: These captives are saved from ignorance. The
prisoners become free only when they become freed of chains, forced into the
light, and accept what things have become and as they truly are, rather than what
they had perceived them as – shadows on a wall.
▶ The journey out of the cave:  This represents one’s inability to change and a
resistance to accept new truths. 
▶ The return to the cave: This represents the enlightener’s quest to dispel ignorance
from others. 
▶ The rejection by the other prisoners when the released prisoner returns: They
are adverse to change and do not wish to be enlightened.
 Knowledge

▶ Epistemic Knowledge
What I think it is – inside the cave

▶ Ontological Knowledge
What it really is – outside world
 Videos & activity

▶ Dove Evolution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

▶ A Girl Like Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAOZhuRb_Q8

▶ Critical Viewing: Shadows on the Wall

▶ Evaluate the epistemic and ontological knowledge for each.
 The Matrix - Assignment

Both the Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix deal with epistemic (what we think is) and
ontological (what it is) knowledge and truths.
Pick ONE of the following prompts and respond to it in a piece of 400-600 words.  Make
sure you state a claim (your personal position regarding the question) and provide reasons
for it. 
You must use evidence and examples from the allegory, the movie, your personal life: inside
and outside of school. You might want to include a counterclaim (that which can be said
against your claim).
▶ 1.Trinity tells Neo: "The Matrix cannot tell you who you are." Consider the role of
society in an individual's life. 
▶ 2. Both the movie and the allegory tell a similar story about the unreliability of the
senses.  To what extent can we trust our senses to tell us the truth?
▶ 3. When Neo is finally confronted with the real world he is in a state of uncertainty.  To
what extent the realization of the truth can be an overwhelming and life-changing
experience?