Allegory of the Cave

This picture reminds me of the caves we saw when we went to Bermuda. I am not sure if the woman in the photo is actually standing in front of a cave, but it got me to thinking about Plato. In Plato's Repulic, he uses the "cave" as a teaching tool. It is meant to teach the nature and cost of choosing to remain unenlightened. Thinking and questing means suffering, but isn't suffering with knowledge better than living a completely sheltered life? Here is an excerpt from Plato’s Republic, Book 7: "Allegory of the Cave" to get you thinking:

"And now, I said (Plato), let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: --Behold! human beings living in a underground cave, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the cave; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.

- I see.

And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent.

- 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?
This excerpt from Plato’s Republic, Book 7: "Allegory of the Cave" conveys his wise observations and philosophy on the human condition. This allegory has inspired my own research since it discloses a most exciting and mystical process that prepares and awakens man to his true destiny.

Plato's Allegory of the cave

" And now, I said (Plato), let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: --Behold! human beings living in a underground cave, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the cave; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.

- I see.

And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent.

- 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?

So. What do you think? Is it better to see only representations and shadows, but be content in that? Or, do you think it would be better to be aware? If all of us are born prisoners who could awaken to a path of enlightenment, despite the inevitable pain and suffering, would you choose that route? I have chosen this path in my life and would make that same choice over and over again. However, don't ask me about it on a bad day.