Chapter 7 – Plato’s “On the Allegory of the Cave

In “The Allegory of the Cave,” Socrates describes a group of people who have been imprisoned in a cave since childhood, with their legs and necks chained so that they can only see the wall in front of them. Behind them, there is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners, there is a raised way along which various objects are carried, casting shadows on the wall. The prisoners, who can only see the shadows, believe these shadows to be reality.

If one of the prisoners were to be freed and exposed to the outside world, they would initially be distressed by the brightness of the sun and struggle to see the true reality. However, with time, they would come to understand and appreciate the world outside the cave, feeling sorry for those still imprisoned. The allegory is often interpreted as a metaphor for the journey to enlightenment and the philosopher’s role in guiding others to see beyond the world’s illusions.