Plato's Allegory of the Cave from The Republic

The Allegory is related to Plato's Theory of Forms, wherein Plato asserts that "Forms" (or "Ideas"), and not the material world of change known to us through sensation, possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality. Only knowledge of the Forms constitutes real knowledge. In addition, the allegory of the cave is an attempt to explain the philosopher's place in society.

Category:

Education

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• Plato's
• Allegory
• of
• the
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• The
• Republic

[MMC369]

What people perceive as God is but mere shadow.

[malambert313]

@MMC369 your right so actually God has to reveal himself instead of being interpreted by man. i.e."Lord of Light"

[malambert313]

Excellent question: Lets make three categories. A) the generalized object ( the form) B) The false perception of said form made in ignorance (not stupidity but uneducated: "The prisoner chained in the darkness") C) The correct perception of said form made in enlightenment (educated: "The free man in the light")

Example: A) the "form" is wealth B) the false perception is that wealth is gold and silver C) the correct perception is that true wealth is found in virtue and wisdom

[IsobeLolz]

Can you explain to me what the world of forms is?

[malambert313]

The objects that are seen, according to Plato, are not real, but literally mimic the real Forms. In the allegory of the cave expressed in Republic, the things that are ordinarily perceived in the world are characterized as shadows of the real things, which are not perceived directly. That which the observer understands when he views the world mimics the archetypes of the many types and properties (that is, of universals) of things observed.

[ANDROID697]

Lord Krishna tells his friend Ajuna-"Those(sages) who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material world] there is no endurance(illusion) and of the eternal [the soul/spiritual world] there is no change/ceasing. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both." [Bhagavad gita.2.16]

One who understands the difference between the body, the soul & the Supersoul beyond them both attains liberation from this material world.

Yoga meditation dispels the illusion!

[MrJumboshrimp7]

wow 8 minutes really flew by

[fntime]

What he might be describing is the problem for a spirit living in the

material world. It seems so real~

Sorry, the Bible is part of the cave for those who take it literally.

In order to leave the Cave, he must recondition his mind and

realize that materiality is an illusion. It appears to be what it is

not!

If you rely on your mind to escape, you fall into the trap of

the egoistic mind! More illusion!

If you reply on your senses, you are only preceiving a

representation, more illusion!

[anonazero]

@malambert313 Enter the BIBLE. /game.set.match

[veelaable]

Plato compares many things in this essay. Ex: the material world to the world of ideas, the life of the mind to the work of governing, silver and gold to virtue and wisdom. How does he use his comparisons to make his argument?