Lit Theory Review - Plato - "Allegory of the Cave"

 Précis for Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”

Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” is a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon, Plato’s brother.   Socrates illustrates learning through the telling of the allegory.  He also interprets the physical world through the allegory and applies it to the rulers of a virtuous state. 

Socrates describes a cave populated with prisoners who have been shown only shadows their entire life.   A fire behind the prisoners casts the shadows, and outside, the sun illuminates the real world.  A prisoner, who is released, would see objects for the first time, as illuminated by the fire, and gain deeper knowledge of things.  The prisoner, when forcefully dragged to the surface, would be blinded by the sun, and they would be unable to view their surroundings until their eyes adjusted to the light.  They would first see shadows and then slowly see brighter areas as their eyes adjusted to the sun.  It is agreed that such an individual, upon returning to the cave, would seem odd and confused to the other prisoners.   

Socrates interprets the prison as our sight, the fire as the sun and the elevation into the sunlight as the soul ascending to reason and truth.  The adjustment of the prisoner’s eyes is reflective of the slow process of revelation during learning.  The adjustment can be from dark to light, or it can be from light to dark.  Light is a metaphor for virtuous understanding and dark is reflective of malicious intelligence or ignorance.  In both cases, the confusing behavior signals someone is transitioning to a different state.  It is agreed that the natural inclination for someone who has seen the truth is to stay and live within its realm.

Socrates articulates that the state must compel the future rulers to the surface realm to gain knowledge of the truth.  In addition, once they have seen the truth, they must return to share their experiences with the rest of the population.   Though nature would suggest the future rulers would want to stay in the upper world, they will descend as they are just and understand their function is to serve all of the state, not just their own personal desires.   Learning, as described by Socrates, is conducted with intent and through revelation.