Plato's Allegory of the Cave

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
- The allegory of the cave represents what we know and what we don't know. When we don't know something we become lost and confused.

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
- The cave itself is imagery and also the use of the shadows, plus light and dark.

3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
- The allegory suggest that exploring and stepping out of your normal comfort zone can benefit you more even if you don't know how to handle the situation, the exposure can bring a new perspective or learning opportunity.

4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
- "Shackles" are restraints holding the prisoners back from seeing new things. The "cave" suggests a surrounding that they have always known and want to leave but are afraid.

5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
- In today's society, I feel like the mind shackles itself. People over-think and care too much about what others say or do that they don't free their mind.

6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
- The freed prisoner's perspective is more creative and imaginative now that he has seen something new. The cave prisoner's are still closed minded and don't believe anything besides what they know, which is the shadows on the cave wall.

7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
- Lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur when someone doesn't have an open mind about new or different ideas or when someone isn't exposed or have enough background to grasp what is being said.

8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
- Prisoners get free by freeing themselves, this is difficult because you are leaving everything you have ever known behind to explore a new world. Intellectual freedom is the same concept, if you want it you cannot be afraid to explore.

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- I agree that there is no distinction between appearances and reality because seeing a shadow on a wall doesn't explain what the real figure is.

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
- Two alternative metaphysical assumptions could be; that you have not gotten an opportunity to see a difference or you are pushing the opportunities away.