Project
#2: Allegory of the Cave 1. Who is
Plato? What are some of his accomplishments? What impact does his philosophy have
on the comtempory society? Make at least one link to a site where readers can learn
about Plato and his philosophy. Plato
2. In The Allegory of the
Cave, Plato seems to discuss about truth, physics, aesthetics, literary criticism,
etc. (a) Do research and find three different interpretations of
Plato's Cave. (b) List
the links of each different interpretation to your web site with brief annotations.
(contemporary reading , discussing, and analyzing the text, describe your interpretation
in a 250 word essay. Explain why you draw such a conclusion.(The first
draft will be collected
and read by me before you publish your final draft on the web)
In life there are situations in which we are held down to certain harsh
scenarios and then liberated toward salvation. In "The Allegory of
the Cave," Plato uses a symbolic story to teach a moral. Symbolic
events presented in the story are shadows, fire, and cave which illustrate
in the outside world the truth, a facilitating force and the source holding
you back.
Love can be used as an example of an allegory story. When one has been
held "captive" in the "cave" of love and only sees the world between oneself
and the partner, one is not revealed to the outside world. You will
be so dazed and infatuated that you will cover your ears and close your
eyes and follow your feelings blindly. No matter what outsiders say,
if you have not yet escaped, you will not understand.
Plato uses chains as a symbol of the object holding back the prisoners
from seeing beyond the shadow into reality. In love, the chains represent
your partner who is holding you back. You may have deep feelings
within yourself to leave an abusive relationship, but the "chains" are
holding you back from leaving and seeing the real, caring world.
A second element used in "The Allegory of the Cave" is the walls where
the shadows were seen. The prisoners only saw the shadows cast by
the fire against a wall. In the outside world the walls represent
reality and society who is standing there to illustrate the joy one can
experience once you are liberated from the cave.
3. Explain how this allegory has changed your way of thinking?(from
your reading log?) 4. If there was
one thing you have learned from the "Cave" and would like to apply it to your life, what
would it be and why?
