Plato's Allegory of the Cave

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In Summary
The Cave is the realm of appearances, for the prisoners see nothing but shadows and take these for real objects. It is a virtual world, like the world of the Matrix where things are not what they seem. All is insubstantial and deceptive. But when a prisoner is released and dragged to the surface, and is shown the sun and all that the sun illuminates, then he knows the insubstantiality of all that he has seen before - recognizes all that he has previously perceived as mere shadow and falseness.

At first he is blinded by the revelation, but soon his senses become accustomed to the real world and he is anxious to return to his erstwhile companions and tell them of the sun-drenched surface. But they think him crazy, think him mad. And why should they believe him if they have no real grasp of what it is he is trying to tell them?

This story was developed by Plato to highlight the difference between belief and knowledge as well as the difference between appearance and reality.


Based on the story, what is the responsibility of the knower to society as a whole?

What risks are involved in being a person who seeks knowledge? What are the benefits?

(EXTRA CREDIT: Write your own Allegory that illustrates the nature of knowledge and the themes represented in Plato’s Allegory)