education & reference
2006-10-16 15:37:38 · 4 answers · asked by k_ashif400 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
In the Allegory of the Cave, prisoners are chained to a wall. On the wall across from them, they see shadows. These shadows are being cast by puppeteers, who are behind the prisoners. The prisoners are unable to see the actual puppets, since they are behind them. All they see and hear is the shadows and echoes of the puppets. They believe these things to be real, because this is the only "reality" they know. These shadows and echoes represent the what they are made to believe to be the real world. In actuality, it is a fake world that they're seeing.
2006-10-16 15:43:00 · answer #1 · answered by عبد الله (ドラゴン) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plato’s point: the general terms of our language are not “names” of the physical objects that we can see. They are actually names of things that we cannot see, things that we can only grasp with the mind.
The prisoners may learn what a book is by their experience with shadows of books. But they would be mistaken if they thought that the word “book” refers to something that any of them has ever seen.
basically....the things/concepts we grasp are not on the same level as the things we perceive.
2006-10-16 15:44:19 · answer #2 · answered by meesheekinz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hypocritical. Plato's whole philosophy is a shadowy obfuscation for his real message, which is, "I'm a spoiled rich kid. Using the mind for practical value would benefit the Little People. As long as they're miserable because the best minds neglect science and waste their time in self-indulgent escapist double-talk, we rich snobs are happy."
2006-10-17 06:11:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, plato was obviously a mexican hippy form mexico
2006-10-16 15:46:34 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. J 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋