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"The Allegory of Cave"

Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person


Performance Task No.1
Russel Felix B. Mejes | 12 ABM Drucker

1. What is the subject matter that Plato deals with in the story?
Plato deals with the difference between reality and perception. He explores
how people can be trapped in ignorance, believing only what they see, and how
enlightenment can lead them to a true understanding of the world.

2. How does Plato describe the life of the Prisoners?


The prisoners live chained in a dark cave. They’ve been there since birth and
can only see shadows projected on the wall in front of them. They mistake these
shadows for reality because it's all they’ve ever known. Their life is limited, dark,
and controlled by illusion.

3. What does the cave represent? What does the fire symbolize?
The cave represents a world of ignorance, where people live without true
knowledge. The fire in the cave symbolizes the false light of the senses and the
illusions that come with it. The shadows on the wall, created by the fire, are the
limited and distorted reality that the prisoners accept as the whole truth.

4. How do the shadows come to be the representation of our knowledge of


objects? Why is the sun the symbol for the light of being?
The shadows represent the incomplete and false knowledge that the prisoners
believe to be true. They are only seeing reflections of objects, not the objects
themselves. The sun, on the other hand, symbolizes the ultimate truth and the
source of real knowledge. It’s the light of reason and understanding, which allows
us to see things as they truly are.

5. What is education for Plato?


Education for plato is not just about learning facts, it’s about guiding the soul
out of the darkness (ignorance) and into the light (knowledge). It’s the process of
turning away from shadows and illusions and moving toward the truth. True
education is about seeing beyond appearances and understanding the deeper
realities of life.

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