ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

SYMBOLISM

• The cave signifies a closed-minded approach to knowledge
• The people in the cave represent the community of the city-state
• The shadows are the opinions of these men which are flawed
• The man who escapes the cave is the philosopher

PERSPECTIVES

• This analogy presents an interesting way of describing the city-state
• Provides a picture which is simple to understand
• Tension between the philospher and the community is distinguishable
• Philosopher is evolving with knowledge
• Rest of community stays simple minded

ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE AND JUSTICE

• Justice is the city-state living in unity with itself
• It is the job of the Philosopher King to dominate and unite city-state
• The Philosopher King would be the man who escapes the cave
• Construction of city-state is the same as construction of soul

CONCLUSION

• "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
• the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
• This quote from Plato relates to the Allegory of the Cave perfectly
• The philospher looks back to the community and feels sorry
• He is sorry for those that do not have the will to know