Thanks.
2007-06-19 17:29:45 · 4 answers · asked by Arthur N 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
For me, it always meant that the world creates/defines you just as you create/define the world. That is to say, in only seeing humans represented as shadows on the wall, that is what you believe humans to be. Thus you must question whether you are a shadow, as well, or whether you are actually human. (Sketchy, I know. But WOW! I mean it's Plato, come on.)
I think that in today's society this relates heavily to media and how it defines not only the world we live in, but how we should live in it and who we are in relationship to it: television, print, film, etc. We're bombarded every day with ideas of what life should be like, could be like, is like, will never be like. As an individual, it's mind-boggling, much like it would be if you had been reared in a cave and are coming into contact with the outside world through distorted imagery. We begin to question whether we are actually human if we don't want to look like Angelina Jolie, or buy Tide because it uses bleach, or drive Nissan Centras because they corner well. We become a society of individuals who either want to conform or want to prove our individuality by not conforming. Either way, we let "them" dictate who "we" are.
In the end, there's really no answer to "correct" this. After all, as I see it, if they had the same problem 3000 years ago, what makes us think we can change it now. Perhaps this is what humanity is. I don't know; this is all ramblings of a very tired graduate student who should be working on a thesis instead of talking philosophy.
2007-06-19 17:55:56 · answer #1 · answered by missyshell05 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Watch The Matrix. The Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix are almost identical in terms of themes and messages.
2007-06-20 00:44:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think he predicted TV and its enslaving effect. He was the first to describe 'the scary world syndrome' where people are too afraid to engage in the real world and instead are content with flickering images on a wall.
Furthermore we are quick to demonize anybody who is trying to lead us out of our ignorance and into the real world.
Our fears lead to violence and mistrust. Our fears enslave us all, if we let them.
2007-06-20 00:35:46 · answer #3 · answered by megalomaniac 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try watching BABEL
2007-06-20 00:43:14 · answer #4 · answered by chase_0131 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋