Plato's Cave Allegory: Exposing Life's Illusions

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Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is an excellent introduction to philosophy. Plato’s Socrates tells the story in Book VII of the Republic. The cave allegory tells the story of strange prisoners chained up at the bottom of a mysterious cave, forced to stare at the cave wall where a series of shadows are projected. Staring at these shadows on the wall of the cave is the only life these prisoners know.
But one day, one of Socrates’s imaginary prisoners is freed from his restraints and dragged up and out of the cave. What he finds as he ascends up and out of the cave - into the light of the real world - is one of the most arresting and beautiful stories about education and philosophy ever told. Plato’s cave allegory is a story about philosophy, about its relationship to politics, about education and the tension between old and young.
For Socrates, the cave story is also, in a way, autobiographical; it’s a tale about the costs of the philosophical life. Whether you need a summary of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to refresh your memory or if you’re looking for an introduction to the allegory of the cave as you start reading Plato, this video should be of use.
#Plato #Cave #Socrates #philosophy
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[@WileyHyena]

I remember the day when I first understood the evening news on TV. I was 13 or 14. I realized that I understood what they were talking about for the first time. It was astonishing enough that I remember it to this day and now I'm 60. Surely, education is a component of Plato's allegory. But back then....the thought that people might grow up through their lives until death without ever understanding beyond a child's mentality the world they live in, is to this day a remarkable observation, and somewhat frightening.

[@mdhossin7501]

I think the lesson of Plato's cave we must share the knowledge with everyone

[@joshuajackson3344]

Amazing explanation!

[@matthewirizarry5710]

Thanks!

[@moodforaday-rl3ww]

Your content is amazing, and the way in which you explain different themes and ideas is so fun to watch

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks so much. Every time I publish a video, I’m always tweaking things and experimenting. I’m never really sure if it’s going to work or not. So it’s always nice to hear people are connecting with the material. Thanks again!

[@zeff]

hmmm, interesting 🤨 The same day you posted this video, I had a psychopathology class where they were explaining the default mode network of the brain, which is an interconnected group of brain structures that activate when we are at rest. This network would hypothetically be what makes us daydream, recall some memories, think about the future, etc. The first thing that came to my mind was this allegory of the cave. We are not very good at remembering things, we have certain biases and we omit some things. That is to say, we would be projecting the shadows of our experiences or generating possible futures. My psychopathology teacher told me that it is a very good way of seeing it 🤨😂 As always great video Professor!

[@GreatBooksProf]

Really interesting connection!

[@ebrahimlaher3705]

Thanks for the new video. You have such a cool way of coming across with these concepts. Wish you can post more often

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks! I wish I could post more often too! Trying to streamline my process. But I’ve also got a lot of offline responsibilities. Sinks full of dirty dishes are always getting in the way of my video editing!

[@samibabar]

Just explained in the easiest way. Subscribed👌

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks. Glad you found it helpful!

[@you-know-who9023]

Hello from Ireland. This was an excellent explanation , which together with your video on Social Contract thinking was a valuable 30 minites or so. Glad I found your channel and it was an easy decision to subscribe.👍

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks very much! I’m glad you enjoyed the videos. Welcome aboard! 🇮🇪

[@AndrewCastrillon]

Great Video! At first I thought it was a person trying to make their way out of the realm of Hades, and once the person got out and, saw paradise for the first time.

[@alanturingtesla]

Keep up the good work!

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks! Will do.

[@annevachun6117]

Dang you know how to use your calling...I could watch you for, and do, for hours. Could teach anything ---- have my undivided attention. You go teacher....GO GO GO !

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks very much! That's very kind of you to say. I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!

[@MistahPaul]

The questions about who the people are that create the images and the ones standing by the fire: it's always interesting to me how they get perceived as "the media," etc, some abstract concept. It seems like they are simply versions of us, who can use fire and tools. The basics of civilization. So, again, us. And the prisoners have no problem with them, don't even know they exist. The freed prisoner attains an even greater level of power that these others seem to use, so in effect becomes greater than them. But as soon as the freed prisoner uses this truth that's more powerful than the puppeteers, that he's killed. Considering in the Republic, Socrates' labels democracy as the creator of tyranny, Plato may be allegorically showing what happens when you allow, for whatever reason, classes to mix. Especially considering his concept of an ideal city. He remarks several times his belief in the concept of a stationary class structure. Don't really agree with it either, but I do have to admit I am not studied in all of his works, so just an observation, not concrete evidence or anything.

[@Dino_Medici]

The truly blessed to be successful intro was GOATED LMAOOOOOOOOOOO

[@joshsmith4459]

Here before everyone else finds your hidden gem of a channel 👌

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks, Josh! Welcome!

[@marlinknight315]

Excellent

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks!

[@Greblav]

Are there like step 2. vids on this, without the usual intro which take up time?

[@barefootedqueen710]

Hello from England

[@GreatBooksProf]

Thanks for watching!

[@prime2669]

Hello from mars

[@sondarandolph2551]

Television😮

[@jasonbrophy5567]

After being educated I like my cave and my cave people friends. The shadows seem more real than the outside.

[@jberrocalucf]

It also goes all the way around . Not back to shadows but also back to the perfect world of ideas 💡 . The “real world “ is the transition. Your little shadow world is actually closer to perfection then one might think !

[@user-vv6gj8fq7n]

Mass phycosis 101

[@BeMinkedBeauty]

I don’t get the education aspect but more so applying it to real life.. how some of us are “woke” while others remain content and in darkness because they choose to remain blind

[@BeMinkedBeauty]

I would say the people projecting the Shadows would be the government or the 1% that actually run the world..

[@jberrocalucf]

What don’t you get about the education aspect?

[@kenroberts2055]

Don’t confuse education with enlightenment.

[@joshuajackson3344]

If it teaches you it’s both

[@Miguel_Gabriel_]

Hello helloooo!!! 🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️ Why do people kill the prophets?