"The Cave"

[CompSciGuy]

Hi,

I have recently become fascinated with the works of Plato, especially “Republic” which I am currently studying (only on book 2 currently).

In my research I have come to learn about his parable of the cave. The way I have learned about it is that the prisoner who escapes to the surface (out of the cave) from the shadows into the real world symbolizes one who escapes the crude reality and enters into the realm of “Forms.” I have also heard that this person represents the philosopher. I am wondering, when he speaks of this escape, is he simply talking about the enlightenment one accomplishes and enjoys through philosophical inquiry, or is he talking about some actual physical/metaphysical process/phenomena by which one actually escapes from this world into another sort of dimension? From what I know of Plato’s metaphysics he believes in the primacy of consciousness and holds a strongly teleological view of reality (hence my interest in his philosophy). Thus I am confused, because if he is merely talking about this ascent as through philosophical inquiry, then it doesn’t seem like much of an escape because the philosopher, though enlightened intellectually, is still subject to the imperfect and changing world.

 

[GEddie]

The first, not the second.

While you are correct about remaining subject to the physical world, the whole point of Socratic/Platonic philosophy IIUC is that the physical world (including human life itself) does not really matter. Hence Socrates’ willingness to die (Phaedo).

ICXC NIKA

 

[LaSainte]

I tend to ascribe to Jung’s theory that what a writer or philosopher intends is one thing, yet what it ACTUALLY means may be another thing altogether, as he may in fact be inspired by what Jung called the “collective unconscious”.

With this in mind, I see the true meaning of this allegory to be what a person with an immortal soul encounters after death, the sentiment of which is also reflected in the Bible in 1 Corinthians, 13:12-
For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

The parable of the cave is open to various interpretations. I like to think it is Plato’s way of encouraging us to believe that all of life is movement from the illusive importance of our daily lives to a realization that our ultimate destiny lies in something more grand than all the shadows that move among us. In that way, it prefigures the dark world men occupied until Christ came to bring us out of the cave into the light of his life.