Plato’s Allegory of the Cave - Alex Gendler

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/plato-s-all...
Twenty four hundred years ago, Plato, one of history’s most famous thinkers, said life is like being chained up in a cave forced to watch shadows flitting across a stone wall. Beyond sounding quite morbid, what exactly did he mean? Alex Gendler unravels Plato's Allegory of the Cave, found in Book VII of "The Republic."
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Stretch Films, Inc.

[@BRockandriffs]

I love how everyone feels that they are the ones that have escaped the cave when they hear about this allegory.

[@0whatman]

yea; to be honest is stupid to think that one scaped "the cave", no one knows how big the cave is, some people may be in a bigger cave than others (bigger as less fake) but it is still a cave non the less.

[@Nathan-rf8ko]

+BRockandriffs The real question is maybe they all have escaped the cave? Is there one true reality or do we create our own realities (think about it a little carefully)? I guess from a religion point of view you could argue a true reality in terms of your beliefs, but from a purely philosophical point of view I think it is a decent question.

[@antshiva]

+BRockandriffs we are still in the cave, it's warm, pleasant, enjoyable, sometimes it's a little nagging, has its ups and downs, but we are still here.

[@thelasthawk2311]

Life is melodrama and we are all actors on the stage of life playing the roles we have been cast in. The script is written and only the director can call for rewrites. The only freewill and choice there is is in how one plays the character they are playing in the melodrama of life.

[@BRockandriffs]

+Nathan Pasas maybe true enlightenment is recognizing that enlightenment is not a thing that one can achieve.

[@FayezMutairi]

"Most people are not just comfortable in their ignorance but hostile to anyone who points it out." very will said. Thanks you.

[@LazyOtaku]

'Murica

[@DanielGonzalez-gf3ou]

@@LazyOtaku hahah

[@creativewriting5855]

Trump supporters

[@letBIGGIErest]

climate change deniers in a nutshell

[@DanielGonzalez-gf3ou]

@@letBIGGIErest people can't deny climate change but face it we are modernizing more. It is natural for technology to override nature. I am not anti nature just putting that out there.

[@az1az2az4]

Maybe you can actually escape the cave, but there's just a bigger one outside.

[@anthonycreates7409]

Stop smoking pot

[@NewTechMrsLloyd]

sounds like the Matrix to me...

[@sadiquasulthana8535]

that's deep

[@zexatt]

the unseen reality

[@gio-ve7vn]

like the truman show

[@ArcticCactie]

I feel bad for people watching this for academic reasons. It's an interesting concept, but when it's academically required, its true charm is suddenly removed and people don't get to actually "learn" about it. When academics require it, people absorb the bare minimum to get it over with and it's such a shame.

[@kardelen8461]

I've never seen anything more accurate than this comment recently. I've gradually lost interest in a lot of things because of this ongoing academic obligations, reading books, watching movies, learning something new etc.

[@DylanMorehouse]

Absolutely. Now that I watch it now, it all makes sense and hits different

[@_Charles_LeClerc_]

@@DylanMorehouse bro exactly in high school I watched this same video just to write bare minimum notes about it in English class Years later re watching it just for myself it’s so much more interesting

[@douba_plusa]

Yeah it’s sad I literally withdrew from a philosophy class 2 semesters ago cause I thought it was boring asf yet I enjoy learning about philosophers’ theories on my own time

[@aidenpearce9066]

Unpopular experience: the more better my grade, the more degradated my knowledge and a passion to seek for knowledge

[@l.tabornal5361]

This video hits different if you have to watch it for academic reasons...

[@brhevfjwhecfliuedvcl]

legit

[@manamiharu206]

True

[@louisuchihatm2556]

@UltraCarbonFiber we learned in my sophomore year in Engineering in a Philosophy class. I am noticing it now....lol

[@vayungupta864]

@@ceilingfanenthusiast6041 Theory of Knowledge, IBDP

[@jacemoore4375]

on God

[@crazgamr6295]

“Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness”

[@mauvemouse9259]

Would you mind telling me the source?

[@a_m2167]

Mauve Mouse Sorry this is a little late but I searched the quote and believe it was said by Alejandro Jodorowsky, a Chilean-French filmmaker.

[@mauvemouse9259]

@@a_m2167 Thank you very, very much.

[@a_m2167]

Mauve Mouse No problem!

[@ladygrinningsoul357]

No, even the captive birds want to fly. But I get your point.

[@AmericanActionReport]

“Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed, by the masses.” ~ Plato

[@kiddkuru]

I love when the world gets mad for pointing out the truth and tells me to either ignore it or flat out call me crazy/reject it. Just doubled down the fact I made it out. It is sad though because most people run far away from the debate or change the subject

[@kiddkuru]

Getting a psychologist helped too. I’ve changed her mind on several things and have a habit of making her cry, but that is often the case when you realize something you thought to be reality was a construct

[@ismaildgn585]

Thats right but he didn’t think themselves

[@AmericanActionReport]

@@ismaildgn585 Thank you for reminding me of Plato's Allegory of the Cave, for it has been some time since I had given it serious thought. We often need to be reminded of something we already know, if only to save us from falling back into old habits of non-thought. For years, I've considered Oscar Wilde's quote, "Society is only a mental concept. In the real world, there are only individuals." I like to say, "Government, like baseball, doesn't exist except as a set of rules agreed upon."

[@noahmigueljava3109]

Jim Carrey's the truman show reminded me of this concept of plato's allegory of the cave between a comfortable illusion and a challenging yet fulfilling reality.

[@bibliobibuli_]

yesyesyes such a good movie and such a good motif

[@WeiYinChan]

The thing is no one knows who is actually out of the cave...

[@WeiYinChan]

Maybe everyone is in the cave but how am I supposed to know as someone who is in the cafe

[@crossfire...rappintruth7793]

+WeiYinChan There is no cave no one in the cave.... Life is seeing itself through yor eyes....

[@crossfire...rappintruth7793]

+Crossfire... Rappin truth The truth is there are no 2 people what so ever

[@WeiYinChan]

+Crossfire... Rappin truth how can you be sure tho?

[@WeiYinChan]

+Crossfire... Rappin truth how can you be sure tho?

[@grimtheghastly8878]

The first time I ever interacted with Plato's Allegory of the Cave was in my 9th grade English class when we read Flowers for Algernon. It was a very meaningful experience for me as one of the many interpretations put forward by my teacher ( whom I adore to this day) was: "would you rather be a happy simpleton and live a life of blissful ignorance of the world around you, or be a miserable intellectual who is enlightened to the true nature of the world but rejected by the rest of society?"

[@autbot6911]

Grim The Ghastly what did you choose?

[@larrydiaz6837]

@@autbot6911 it isn't a choice, that's the point, the answer to the question will likely be which group you identify yourself with. The easiest example I think of is asking whether you prefer childhood rather than adulthood. I used to think I preferred the enlightened misery of reality, but over the years, I have grown to appreciate happy ignorance. I could never go back though, it isn't a choice, I'm naturally curious, skeptic, and comfortable with being alone. The key is to push yourself in ways that are unnatural to you, I have always kept a silly mischievous sense of humor and a childlike awe of the mysterious and beautiful, it helps balance the two sides so that I can "pass" in both groups. It isn't easy, but it is less miserable, and you also have many opportunities to enlighten others outside your bubble. The more corrupt and dangerous society becomes. the less safe it is to leave ones bubble, which only divides us further. This is why in dark times you see divisions, some politicians blame the bubbles we all fall in, but benefit financially and professionally from the greed, corruption and theft on our society. It will take a lot of us to leave our comfort zone and join ranks to preserve the balance.

[@tpsam]

@@larrydiaz6837 but you think society as a whole is moving from childhood towards adulthood Or really throughout the centuries nothing ever changed It's just our own bias projecting and reading into humans hysterical evolution as a society whatever narrative that pleases us the most? I think slowly but surely humanity is getting more and more towards adulthood and aware of the cave But it really could depend only on the focus of the observers Shorter attention span soft without strong will people incapable of stepping outside their comfort zone and entitled and used to get it the easiest way without any notion of responsibility and earning it through hard work All These problems are very much still present actually in society So are we really slowly unchaining ourselves or nothing is really changing or has really ever changed

[@KC-bb7ql]

I think this question was asked with a bit of finality.

[@willjb89]

I am at a cross roads. It's causing me to feel a LITTLE depressed, confused and unsure. However, I keep "peeling the layers of the onion" and I can't stop. This was a great allegory.

[@bridgetwebb5934]

The "sad" thing is, that most people LIKE living in the cave. It's safe, and secure, and you don't really need to think past the basic idea that I am watching shadows. Most people don't like the feeling of drastic change that impacts their life. No one likes feeling unprotected.

[@livelikelarry0017]

The Human “cave” I think is going to be an end all be all for us. Its something that holds us back from adapting and growing as a civilization. The amount of misinformation out there and echo-chambers based around misinformation no matter what subject it may be, scares me. How can we evolve if we all become comfortable with lies. We are going to detach ourselves from reality and truth enough to the point where it will be too late to fix some very large issues that could’ve been dealt with earlier.

[@didanz100]

Yes like watching CNN for their truths

[@livelikelarry0017]

@@didanz100 Or Fox news, both are just as bad

[@jordandesmet6593]

They don’t realize the lie of the safety of the cave. The freedom outside is so much greater… the only real reality.

[@nathanielburns6692]

@@jordandesmet6593 but technically more dangerous

[@thepineapple551]

The fact that everyone thinks that they're the ones who have escaped the cave, shows you that we're all still in that cave

[@dxxrax]

youre unto something..

[@-Subtle-]

It's possible to be out of the cave in some circumstances and totally in the cave for other circumstances.

[@andylines8040]

The truth is like sunlight, people used to think it was good for you

[@chacha-dh1gj]

no one will know and no one will ever escape the cave I think

[@PHANT0M107]

It’s caves all the way down

[@danielkillorin9742]

Damn I want to be a philosopher but I cant think of anything

[@E4439Qv5]

Nobody: Diogenes: _...finally, an honest man._

[@kimberlyrios5955]

LMAO

[@vacationgreat5095]

if you can't think of anything try thinking of nothing and see what comes from it.

[@danielkillorin9742]

@@vacationgreat5095 I actually can think of things but I like that that reminds me of something David lynch would say

[@kleinerkaiser7050]

At least you think. This alone makes you a "philosopher king" compared to many. I mean really, many, oh so many people have lost their ability to actually *think*

[@wildboar7473]

"It's easier to fool people then to convince them they have been fooled" - Mark Twain

[@retosius7962]

religion in a nutshell

[@alexanderespinoza]

than*

[@RSVDCN]

Plato was the first 4chan-er. "I'm the ultimate source of knowledge and everyone who disagrees is a caveman who can't think"

[@pepperonipizza8200]

That's the Internet in general.

[@jeff6551]

Lol, when I read Plato’s Republic, one of my initial thoughts was Socrates was an OG Troll hahaha.

[@chrissquid]

except plato was one of the few people who were partially right about that

[@arthurcampos2815]

Plato the first based dude

[@aftersexhighfives]

😂😂😂

[@theepicwaffle5212]

Dude: *Escapes Cave and goes straight to looking at the Sun* *What we have here is a genius*

[@cirogarios2913]

I think you didn´t get the point, bro. They´ve been living there since childhood. So he doesn´t really know what will happen if he look straight at the sun.

[@theepicwaffle5212]

Ciro Garios I know but I was just kidding

[@metropsiderss]

A stable genius. Hmm? See what I did there?

[@andylines8040]

The truth is like sunlight, people used to think it was good for you

[@SammyBearX3]

when all the comments provide examples of possible thesis statements for your final paper... thanks guys :D

[@arianepalaruan5208]

LOL IKR

[@raz0rblad380]

Lol haha srsly thanks guys

[@oseinicharlyn1284]

The accuracy 😂❤️

[@raginbakin1430]

I feel like the fact that we're even contemplating this in the first place, really shows how special humans are.

[@MrEmmanuel678]

Yes

[@sungodmoth]

I think this comment really shows the ego of humans.

[@raginbakin1430]

+Shun_Aonuma Well it's not like animals are making rockets to the moon

[@Vexsus22]

+Eric Huang he was just stating his opinion of what is by the information of your first comment. i think you misinterpreted his intended meaning; your second comment there has no bearing to a possible opposing argument

[@raginbakin1430]

Vexsus22 I'm sorry, I don't understand a word you just said.

[@LooseToots]

Reading through “The Allegory of the Cave” had me, like most people thinking about how in society, we may all still be chained within a cave, forced to stare at the wall, shrouded in shadows. Never knowing what went on outside of the cave, never considering that their may in fact be, more than the wall, more than the cave. But, striving to be different, as most of us do, I tried to extract a unique meaning from his allegory. - Here is my take on the allegory of the cave: Plato may have meant that you cannot and will not be able to live through the eyes of another, as to say their experiences shape them, but they cannot shape you - Reality is subjective, not objective.

[@loganmccomb3774]

Well said.

[@twinnextwinsters2946]

Bright person

[@alli3196]

thx .. i want to add ur idea on my essay is that ok?

[@LooseToots]

@@alli3196 I don't mind, go ahead :)

[@alli3196]

@@LooseToots thank you!!!!!

[@giannasabellina9763]

I always find the comments more informative and interesting than the actual video.

[@ajitkr.poddar9791]

me too

[@kiddkuru]

If that was the case here, you are in the cave. Looking at these comments have made me feel truly sad on how correct the video is. Almost everyone here is living in “their own reality” which is what the cave in the video is referring to

[@tropheusanims698]

@@kiddkuru did you read the webtoon, “The World After The Fall” it’s whole concept is based on this, it was a hat brought me here and it is fantastic.

[@howhow4829]

i have an essay due on this in a few hours... wish me luck

[@thewayfayer3268]

Did you finish it? Was it graded? What grade did you get?

[@daithimurphy6783]

Same bro

[@naturalbottle435]

Yeah bro how was it?

[@ulicespedraza]

@Chyco Kat thus guy deid

[@simranp736]

@Chyco Kat i need answers i have n essay too

[@Comenter0999]

my teacher really thought i was really gonna read that whole thang huh

[@ahmedbajalan1274]

LMAO same

[@kristi5346]

sameeee💀💀

[@admiralhood8646]

LEAH same hereeee

[@yehawww8358]

omg we all do be living the same lives huh lmao

[@gurdialsingh9863]

It would have benefited you more if you had read the whole thing, but i get it what you are saying.

[@byronvalle951]

I learned about this Allegory back in middle school 20+ years ago and I still think about it. Such profound thinking that explains so much

[@OoooooooLongJohnson]

Meh

[@iloveyellow7214]

Hi TED thank you for making things like this in easy to absorb delivery You guys are awesome! Take care and be safe as always

[@benhaggerty8707]

I read it as "Plato's allergy of the cave"

[@paulwgraves]

Dsylxiea at it's finest

[@Dreamheart101]

Same

[@Silverwind87]

An actual mini-roll *sneezes* Sorry, I'm allergic to caves.

[@seanyu5368]

SAME

[@waterlemon5272]

An actual mini-roll XD YEA IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FIGUE THAT THIS COMMENT WAS DIFFERENT TO THE TITLE XDD

[@greenageguy]

Will you break free to struggle towards light even if it cost you your friends and family or stick with comfortable and familiar illusions ?

[@OnyxtheFortuitous]

Perhaps my favorite line from this video.

[@morganjones9119]

***** What do the lessons from your life tell you?

[@darrellng7617]

+Girish B. illuminati confirmed

[@kimandreolsen6298]

+Vinneish Varmend It is not logically wrong. Animal studies have proved that it is quite widespread. And it also makes perfect sense from an evolutionary perspective as mutations are trial and error. We also know that the environment at a young age can have life long implications. It is quite logical that some would differ substantially in their sexuality. So here people idealizing humans as something perfect, a thought stemming from narccisism, are the ones stuck in chains.

[@4amcuriosity162]

Yes, always choose truth over anything

[@rafaelgalano4760]

These comments full of wisdom I almost discover the purpose of life.

[@whatusername1234]

The purpose of life is to lay your life down for your fellow human being...just like Jesus did... that is to say to love one another..if you do not believe me, ask God when you meet him after your life on earth is over... was that dude on KZbin right about what the purpose of life is ...he will tell you...yup he was...😁

[@andylines8040]

The truth is like sunlight, people used to think it was good for you

[@kardelen8461]

i laughed so hard :d

[@shreeyamittal1771]

@@whatusername1234 You definitely did not watch the video.

[@alterego157]

It happens to people who look for wisdom in yt comments

[@chengmarsh5674]

who's watching for academic purposes ✋😔

[@bemotivated8443]

I’m watching this because I ran across this song called Cave by Mumford and sons

[@hxacalifornia2286]

Watching it because I want to self educate.

[@Daniel-pj7di]

same i watch this for english test

[@lilcruz5422]

i am XD

[@user-cy3sh3jx9z]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmi2kotnmb-UgqM

[@leohall5455]

why didnt the dude release the other dudes before he left the cave homie

[@Makeupaddict026]

lmao

[@vitalnutrients744]

because he had no faith in himself if he believes that the journey is dangerous why bring others

[@florazab1]

Because to him this is not a Prison! this is his normal life!

[@frankypappa]

If he would set them free they would hold him back and tell him it’s safe in the cave and let just keep watching the shadows on the wall don’t even try to go out ...but good point though.

[@satrajeets3180]

so that you can ask the question

[@DavidBlaze420]

This is why everyone should try mushrooms at least once in their life.

[@bogerritsma]

Bingo

[@granola661]

yup

[@josuelandin7050]

What you seek is DMT, it will change your perception of this world. Look it up, our bodies are able to produce it, no need to look out there; you just need to learn how to find yourself within😇

[@cassidyhigbee8422]

David Blaze Or LSD, just not excessively. Taking those psychedelic drugs twice or a few times can open the mind, but taking them too often can literally drive you insane.

[@DavidBlaze420]

Recommended by whom? The same people who treat illnesses with hard drugs?

[@tonyweaver2353]

I felt this when I moved out on my own, no parents, no guidance, just me and an apartment in the middle of the city. Had to relearn everything and see everything in a different light. It all did feel more real.

[@kiddkuru]

I pray for you

[@ericwalker6546]

I never thought I would see the day these wonderful books Ted-Ed is putting together explaining in minutes. What took the rest of us days and months with our college professors. Hope it gets them to read the whole books they are sprinkling on KZbin?

[@aureliabackup7313]

Amazing how Plato predicted the movie "The Matrix" 2400 years before it was made!

[@zakinadhif]

but this is 2020

[@YungNoDussy]

@@zakinadhif no this is patrick

[@lamda4738]

Technology might evolved since then but the world is the same.

[@zakinadhif]

@@lamda4738 But the world seems flat aren't it

[@user-mb9cb8wo7l]

Amazing how you think that the real Matrix wasn't made 2400 years ago

[@traviscramer6060]

"You're not alone. There are lots of us down here."

[@cosmobiologist]

The Matrix is still one of the greatest explorations of the concept of the Allegory of the Cave in our history. I wouldn't be surprised to see it continuing to be used in philosophy courses to introduce the idea for some time to come.

[@TkrzTT]

Yh the Matrix is the greatest and the Truman Show is probably 2nd

[@Offshore6051]

We just studied this in school. The discussion - and the concept of the Allegory itself - was incredibly interesting!

[@DemonOfEndor]

But why is there a carrot in the bed?

[@diegosandovalr.4806]

Why are they naked tho

[@gale7682]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@findyouressence]

😂😂😂

[@yourboyeggs5336]

follow the rabbit

[@Alianger]

And why is the younger brother pantless??

[@nijomu]

I just want to point out that in Plato's original allegory, the shadows were cast by objects being moved in front of a fire, not by people moving in front of the cave entrance as this animation claims. This is important because it makes the prisoners in the cave even more divorced from reality.

[@hahalolxyz0685]

? did they change the animation because now it shows that the shadows are caused by objects moving in front of a fire.

[@NguyenPhuong-cw4eh]

I'm reading The Republic and this video helps me to understand the book more insightful. Thanks a lot.

[@manjorisarkar7524]

The more that I think about it, the more I realise that the cave and being chained up is actually a great example. If we're all in the cave and after watching the video, realise it, we'd try to unlock the chains, and by sharing the knowledge of potentially having a world out there unknown to us,with someone else, they may consider trying to unlock themselves too. So I guess it also depends on who you're locked near to, the people who influence you, and are being influenced by the shadows with you.

[@TheJshew35]

In ignorance there truly is bliss. The more I build on my intellect the further I feel from the ones I love. I have a passion for learning and I want to share the knowledge I gain, but it is at times I feel I am only seen as pretentious. I go through life pretending to feel indifferent and mostly masking my intellect. Do the ends justify the means?

[@kaiosama3846]

well said

[@snarf1504]

Beautifully worded.

[@joshsancho7931]

+Josh Sancho But then again, what do I know? I'm just a trolling KZbin commentator after all. There's nothing lower than that. I'm sure Alanis Morrissette would have something to say about that. Who would have thought it figures eh?

[@joshsancho7931]

+ Dream Master to me the bliss that comes from ignorance is hollow and dangerous. Surely the bliss that comes from harvesting knowledge previously unknown is far more superior and genuine. You know what you know, and you know what you don't know. But what about all the stuff that you didn't know that you don't know? How would you comprehend that stuff if you didn't bother to venture out of your ignorant 'bliss' every once in a while? Balance truth with Irony, not ignorance. Ignorance is always going to be there regardless anyway. But so will Irony and Irony trumps ignorance any day of the week

[@TheAgavi]

+Jeremy Shew I hear you. If you're anything like me, the question is moot because you don't really have a choice in whether or not you keep learning. I'm constantly understimulated, so I read and learn and debate, which isolates me further, leaving me undertimulated. Rinse and repeat. Pretentiousness isn't about what you know, but who you tell and how. Find appropriate places with like-minded people to share and discuss what you're interests. The sad fact is that the people we love will probably never be as fascinated as we are by a lot of things, so it's selfish of us to keep trying to share with them. Often we're so desperate to discuss something that's got our attention that we don't realise we're making people feel stupid, which makes them hate us. You don't have to hide your intellect, just don't rub it in people's faces. Look for the non-intellectual qualities in the people you love, and look for flaws of your own that your intellect doesn't solve. That should keep you grounded.

[@Cmacphilosophy]

OMG -- I love the last line, where Gendler says "you're not alone -- there are lots of us down here!" :D This is excellent -- a wonderful video!!!

[@hopelines1397]

Beautifully presented. Without the light, we have no chance of realizing where we are, let alone making an effort to climb out.

[@medusa.v.odalisque]

the light (fire) is created by "them" to keep us in the cave longer

[@jackmclaren768]

@@medusa.v.odalisque They are also looking at the same shadows that "they" themselves are projecting.

[@alfalldoot6715]

​@@medusa.v.odalisqueYou just spoke so vaguely that I can gleam no meaning from it whatsoever.

[@Isenseven1080]

One of the very few things I took with me for life while in college. Everyone needs to know this story.

[@seanp.kilroy6833]

This is the most comprehensive and concise summation of this concept I’ve yet to see. Thank you.

[@kiddkuru]

Talking like that won’t help you out any faster, I hope you know. Just another shadow on the wall

[@Bill-ou7zp]

No one ever really escapes the cave, in the end we're all clueless

[@manmeetsingh4934]

bill’s movies probably after death

[@penectus4777]

I remember reading this in High School for my English class, but I did not really think much about it. Out of curiosity, I stumbled upon this reading again. The more I read it, the more I recognize myself as the prisoner viewing the shadows as reality. I find this text meaningful and it gives me much to think about. If we are the prisoners in this cave, how do we get out?

[@_sunny_shadow_]

I study sociology and we had a whole lecture about this and even had to read Plato's literature and everything but up until this point, when I've finished watching this video I didn't fully understand, omg thank you so much!! you made it so much easier to understand! it actually makes sense to me now

[@Wakeup2theNWO01]

Thanks for this breakdown! I have to write a paper on the allegory of the cave and was having a hard time deciphering what I read! This video helps a lot!

[@AndyWelsh94]

Plato believed in the pre-existence and immortality of the soul, holding that life is nothing more than the imprisonment of the soul in a body. In addition to the physical world, there is a heavenly realm of greater reality consisting in Forms, Ideals, or Ideas.

[@4amcuriosity162]

Look into the 2012 precession of the equinoxes, there is a great awakening happening

[@happyday2440]

I need a joint

[@logos1.618]

Someone is awake in this comment section :)

[@n4m4n81]

Plato did DMT

[@cobywoolcott8258]

@@0XxBesTofTheRestxX0 Your Comment reminded me of how everyone was buying out all the Toilet Paper and Milk a few months ago just because of a Virus.

[@tidela4714]

There are so many questions that this allegory asks, and all of them can be applied to daily struggles. Questions about existence, thought, politics, ethics, human nature, relationships, emotions, being different. Odds are, if you read or hear about this allegory, you can find a piece of yourself in it, and that’s what makes it so genius.

[@MontyCampbell]

Love the simplicity of the concept

[@capubecks]

The only problem is, we all think we are the ones who got out of the cave, we all think we are the smart ones who know the truth and it is the others who are still inside...

[@andrewnowrouz1424]

capubecks The only problem is that everyone keeps saying what you said when Plato repeatedly says that there's a way for one to know whether he's in or out of the cave and, if he's in, escape to the outer world.

[@kittyclover5041]

👍

[@marcuschiong306]

Have you heard of the Chinese idiom: little frog in a well looking up at the sky

[@cowl6867]

The Dunning Kruger effect

[@moonboy2022]

i escaped the cave and now im in jail

[@SionAllona]

The fuck did those babies do to become prisoners for life?

[@setsu1997]

+Sion Allona Almost everywhere i go there seems to be alot of furries, Is the fandom growing?

[@01101111011010110110]

+_BILLCIPHER _ People are becoming more open, and more willing to express things they care about, at least from what I've seen

[@setsu1997]

O1001111011010110110000101111001 ok thx

[@MetalHearts100]

+_BILLCIPHER _ Lol he has an avatar of an animated animal, so he must be a furry.. seems legit..

[@SionAllona]

MetalHearts100 I am a furfag though.

[@phongphamngoc2643]

So meaning full. Thank you so much

[@brainstormingsharing1309]

Absolutely well done and definitely keep it up!!! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@JasmineJu]

Red or Blue Pill...

[@sharkplaya408]

+Higgs Boson allot of people take both. take the pill to know the truth but don't like it and regress back into ignorance, and vise-versa.

[@Emperor.Penguin.]

+Higgs Boson happy pill

[@huh354]

+Tamerlane *happy little pill 😏😏

[@antshiva]

+Higgs Boson Experience all that there is to life pill

[@readneuromancerbywilliamgi6761]

+Higgs Boson There is no red pill or blue pill. There is nothing beyond the matrix. Once you are out, you are all alone out there. No Morpheus or Trinity or Kung Fu lessons. You are alone in the cold with nothing and nobody.

[@timothyd.8917]

The video got a few details wrong, but presented the overall view well for someone not familiar with it.

[@Actingthemaggot69]

This really hot home in my experience coming from addiction into recovery.. the people in the cave are completely lost and just have a sense of security in the familiar. Glad to be free!

[@airsign4452]

This was one of my favorite lessons in philosophy

[@turicaederynmab5343]

Plato was such a fucking genius holy shit.

[@someone4232]

I think this is exactly how he wanted to be remembered.

[@thebishopofme]

I prefer Diogenes, but Plato is cool too.

[@1ute]

@@thebishopofme barrel man

[@r0ast5_61]

@@thebishopofme if diogenes were alive today, he'd be a 4chan tard

[@Dosteyboi]

this man's voice is so calming ❤

[@asia7279]

I studied this for last semester but never really understood enough to remember or be affected but it. Philosophy is amazing.

[@brandonbryn7113]

very nice production; thank you!

[@ambassador8524]

“Most people are not just comfortable in their ignorance but hostile to anyone who points it out”

[@Akari-br7ci]

This concept is very scary when you apply it to real life. Even if you have escaped your cave, whatever that may be for you, how do you know you're not in a bigger cave? You might say, "of course I'm not in a cave. Everything thing I know and believe is true." But the prisoners inside the cave thought the same thing. The truth is you can only see the cave from outside. No matter how many caves you've escaped from, you can never truly know if you're not still inside one.

[@cybercheese3]

Damn I feel like you are outside the cave right now.

[@ralsharp6013]

I keep coming back to this thank you

[@user-ig7lp6ik9y]

Short but informative. I really love it. Thanks ❤❤❤

[@overdxze_]

I love the fact that Stretch Films was in charge of the animation, if you are not familiar with Stretch Films... do you remember Courage the cowardly dog? His creator John R. Dilworth is the founder of Stretch films

[@alexramey2062]

I'm actually disappointed with this explanation of the Alagory of the Cave, as the original is much more complex and in depth as opposed to just being inspiration for the Matrix. In the book, prisoners are chained up while looking at a wall illuminated not by the outside world, but by an artificial flame lit by a shadowcaster that moves statutes of fake cows and trees in front of it to create fake shadows. The real world actually exists above the Cave via an upward tunnel behind the flame, where real cows and trees casting real shadows by the sun can be found. In this analogy, shadows are what our limited senses are capable of observing, while the thing casting it is reality that exists independent of our personal experience of it. The story is meant to distinguish how we can use deductive reasoning (certain math and logic) to aid our inductive reasoning (uncertain science and experimentation) in better figuring out the difference between shadows cast by cows that are real, instead of fake. So in other words: We are the people chained up, The chains are our ignorance, The shadowcasters are politicians, corporations, the media, etc that cares more about controlling the masses by their appetites and emotions over reason, The cow statue is the truth behind the lies of what it is trying to mimic, The shadow is how we see it propagated in our world, The real cow is the truth behind what cows are really like, The shadow is the information presented that allows us to tell if it is real or not, Breaking the chains and turning around is how we come to realize how we are being manipulated, Climbing out of the Cave is the process of realizing that there are greater truths beyond the Cave, Getting out of the Cave and having our eyes adjust to the light is the thinking part of figuring out what is not only real and fake, but knowing what is most logical, Overall, the way we escape the Cave is by using our reason and putting away our irrational hungers and emotions to do so. Simple as that. In exchange, we can usurp the shadowcasters and put better shadows in their place, ones that better resemble reality.

[@agnesahaziri9275]

This is soooooooooooo good 👍

[@painandmisery8971]

damm, you really saved me bro

[@danieltarlac7842]

VERY WELL EXPLAINED SIR! THANK YOU!

[@austen7653]

Boutta use this on my paper 🤞 thanks twin 🙏

[@RAMBO14001]

I personally believe the Zionist Masons are the ones behind the illumination of every shadow out there.

[@AstromuonKuki]

Coming to Utube after watching 1899 series. This series is based on Plato's allegory cave.

[@Kormac80]

I studied this in college, but was def in the cave and didn't understand it. In my 50's, after a lifetime of reading and seeking i began plant med work with Aya and after a couple dozen sessions i had the realization that I finally understood the cave allegory and was in the "eyes adjusting to the real world" stage. After a couple dozen more sessions over the next 3 yr or so my eyes had adjusted and I realized i'd made it out of the cave for real. My gratitude for being inclined towards that path has been very deep. Gratitude to ancestors who granted me this inclination. Gratitude towards whatever mysteries granted me the gift of true liberation from suffering. It's a very humbling process and one has to continually navigate the question of self-delusion, but based on what longtime friends, co-workers and family have told me, (most who had no knowledge of my pursuit) my healing/transformation is authentic. I have encountered many who work with plant medicine who believe they are healed but are still in the grip of delusion. And i'm always alert to that possibility for myself.

[@butcherboy2008]

What is interesting is that the Gospel Of John was the first book of the Bible written in Greek. The concept of an idea and a form is the essence of John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh" is Plato's Allegory Of The Cave. The Greek word "logos" can be interpreted as both "word" (dialogue, monologue) and "idea." (logic) So John 1:1 can also be translated as "In the beginning was the ideal and the ideal was given form."

[@elijah_oofoof8891]

That's same interesting. I know Greek and ancient Greek alike and have interpreted logos as many different things, dialogue, speech, language, and logic as you said But I still don't really get it.

[@todrkdck9805]

Mindblowing and goosebumps!! He surely is genius

[@mikeole-kuyan6841]

What a wonderful presentation

[@mr_phamtastic]

read it and didn’t understand it in school. Ted ed makes it so much easier

[@lindslu]

thank you so much for this! i needed to understand the allegory of the cave for my world history test tomorrow :)

[@fatimabintaysalman6139]

Ik it's been a lot of time but how did it go? :)

[@naufalinorabbani4979]

This is why I can't sleep at night.

[@thekillerfle]

I had a period in my life where it felt like someone pushed me out of the cave and I was so blinded by the light that I stumbled around and got lost. It was terrifying and I just wanted to go back to the cave where the fog of existence was. I made it back to the cave but often think about the things I saw when I left.

[@thekillerfle]

@@demi9383 I like that :) a more positive perspective is always needed

[@braveburim]

We have North Korea as a perfect analogy example of plato’s allegory cave example. Imagine the children that are born into a country held captive by a dictatorial ruler just like the 3 prisoners in the cave not being able to free think, travel, explore, enjoy what most of us have. When you think about it is really crazy. Got me thinking since communism is the ideal Form, theoretically the perfect System but in practice its just a bad blue print of the original ideal Form. Maybe I am over thinking this... I’d appreciate your thoughts on this feel free to reply on my comment.

[@jathebest2835]

I fully agree with you as a native South Korean. I regard NK's ideology as a pathetic theory. The leader class says an increase of knowledge and perception can be contrary to the communism system and it ultimately harms people's well being. But is it really good for everyone that all information is blocked and controlled by elite class? What can truly liberate people's mind? Being in the cave or?

[@gmohammersticks]

communism is bad on paper and worse in real life. communism is greed. you will get what you work for, nothing more, nothing less.

[@braveburim]

prodgmo But greed is in every system wouldn’t you agree, its a human nature so many big companies enslave their staff, With unfair wages. What is greed to you? You think its fair for a footballer to kick a ball around for 250k a week while a doctor surgeon gets maybe that in a year and saves life’s. There is no perfect system unfortunately.

[@braveburim]

Don't Click My Profile There are many people that flee north to south, They are willing to risk it all to escape the cave break their chain as if they are fighting for an idea that they believe will set them free no matter the outcome. Just like Socrates had choice to either denounce he’s teachings to the youth or drink the poison, He believed in he’s ideas and took the hard way to show he’s point. Well depends where you live. Here in the west the media mostly narrates peoples ideas and views its all how well you prepare to free think and evaluate the current status quo.

[@shomaruyama5654]

@@braveburim sad truth

[@makeitbetter7436]

Круто, одна из самых любимых аллегорий. Часто вставляю его в свои презентации или лекции.)

[@ethans-clips]

Thank you for this! This explained the Alegory better than my teacher did in 45 minutes.

[@camilaakemimassakigomes7898]

I will never forget when I read and understood The republic and what the cave allegory really meant. It really felt like I had been living on that damn cave my whole life and had finally seen the sun. So insanely beautiful.

[@elliecrabbe]

Wonderful explanation thank you!

[@mmmk1616]

So, a comment on a TED talk got me to google "Plato's Allegory of the Cave" and what comes up? A TED-Ed video! I love TED-Ed, one of my favorite you tube channels :)

[@The.Doctor2]

This alegory is so old and famous that the original alegory may have suffered some changes and now you can find this alegory in different forms. Probably the one that makes most sense is that actually there is no fire in the cave. There is but one entrance through wich sunlight gets inside the cave and projects shadows of the animals and people passing by the entrance onto the wall. People of course with their back facing the entrance and being chained by the legs and necks so they can't either stand up or turn around, not even their heads.

[@dzcage]

THANKYOUUUUU SOO MUCH ! Saved me a lot of time .

[@Wheyooo]

We are looping all the time

[@MarkVanceForthWatchMinistries]

TRUTH VS. OPINION YOU CANNOT HOLD BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

[@brittlebrittlebakeriesllc8702]

AMEN

[@brittlebrittlebakeriesllc8702]

***** Satan tried that on Jesus and how did that work out for him? there is NO LIE of the TRUTH...100% TRUTH or 100% lie...NO IN BETWEEN!!

[@MarkVanceForthWatchMinistries]

Depends on the prospective if your prospective is a reflection of your experience in the flesh it is a lie. If its your prospective as a reflection of who you are in CHRIST. WELL LETS JUST SAY YOU ARE DEAD. AND YOUR PROSPECTIVE IS NOT YOURS BUT CHRISTS. WE AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER WHY BECUASE CHRIST JESUS IS OUR HEAD. WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT.  *****​ Gods Love to You friend good Question i pray this speaks to your heart.

[@AnonymooseWasMyName]

+Brother Mark (Vance) Poppycock. "Truth", the thing that is the bulk of knowledge considered 'known' is nothing more or less than a consensus of opinion, by people who (by virtue of nothing but opinion) are considered to be worthy of making such a judgement call for the rest of us. Most times these people are called Scientists, but for some, they are called Religious leaders. "Truth", as an objective constant, is not a thing that we _can_ know. Objectivity is an illusion. Existence, as we experience it, is nothing more or less than the collective impressions of various biological mechanisms, as run through a biological computer, which has only itself to verify and report back to. You do not experience the world as it is, in real time, you experience an amalgamation of the world, as cobbled back together by your brain, after having taken a few milliseconds to tear it all apart and examine the pieces and sprinkle on a dash of subjective experience for flavor. Consider colorblindness. You might say that most traffic lights (in America) are red, yellow and green. My colorblind uncle would tell you they're three different shades of yellow. One truth, two opinions, and neither is objectively verifiable. See, your mistake is in putting far too much stock to this notion you call "truth".

[@MarkVanceForthWatchMinistries]

Thank You for your interjection.

[@jasmeetsinghkapoor9957]

I truly understood plato’s allegory through your videos . According to me when the prisoner was released he had a choice to move towards light that signifies love discipline thought freedom etc or stay with the other prisoner to look only at the shadows which refer to as the sad truth about our reality that is fake love , fake beauty standards , oppression etc but even if you try to enlighten the people they will judge you and become hostile against you instead of just looking at the shadows which refer to the fake pleasure we should go out in open and create something

[@tayssal1764]

what a great concept!!!!

[@alexikeda1]

Surprising this video is 5 years old, feels fresh and new

[@jahangeerasif]

In reality anyone who thinks alot consider other people in their league ignorant, sometimes people develop arrogance when they get the idea that only they are able to perceive the reality of life..

[@mintylatte7477]

+Jahangeer Asif That's true, however the problem here isn't with the fact that they themselves think they're special, but with the fact that society at large forces them to perceive themselves as such. I for one have reached a point at which I can't even discuss my opinions with anyone. Neither with people from my age group, neither with adults, neither in western Europe nor in eastern Europe. Everyone just responds aggressively and emotionally to many of the things I say, and I get labelled different unpleasant names. The only people with whom I am able to discuss the vast amount of topics I'm interested in are professors at my university. Somehow only they are able to understand whatever I'm getting at and avoid jumping on the bandwagon of mainstream reality. So this is the moment when I've begun to realize that philosophy in itself is solitude. You can either share your discoveries with others and be called an asshole, or keep them to yourself and lie about not having an opinion. But then again, if we look at all of the world's greatest philosophers, all of them were hated, beaten, arrested, tortured, killed during their time. And venerated only posthumously. I guess for a philosopher to stay safe, he also must be a skilled Machiavellian.

[@AnonymooseWasMyName]

+Jahangeer Asif Arrogance only applies if you have an inaccurate estimation of your abilities/attributes. It doesn't apply when you are highly intelligent and aware of it, regardless of what sort of personality you have. It's a common misconception that intelligence = wisdom, or even that intelligence = kindness, but that's all it is, a common misconception, folk wisdom, a comforting assumption; there is no causative link between intelligence and kindness. Because ignorance breeds hate, smart people are less likely to be violent, or hold views that run contrary to logic (such as racism, etc), and so are less likely to be mean, but less likely doesn't mean impossible, and certainly not exclusionary. Smart people are just as capable of being mean, rude, pompous, cocky assholes as anyone else, more so because being highly intelligent can make a person very bitter. It is very difficult not to foster bitterness, contempt, resentment, envy or other negativity when you actually _are_ more intelligent than the majority of people you meet in everyday life (especially when it doesn't stop at just your peers, but extends to include all age ranges and multiple levels of education, even those above what you have achieved). It is very lonely, maddeningly so, at times. You can't _really_ connect with people, not the way most others do. It's easy to become frustrated because the way you think (not just what you know or what you want to talk about, but the actual manner in which you process, store, access and convey information/ideas) is so different from the way others think that often, it isn't a mere case of being misunderstood- it becomes an issue of whether you are _capable_ of being understood at all. I've gotten in conversations in which I was mocked for being wrong*, simply because the person I was talking to could not grasp the concepts necessary to identify where he was getting confused. Being highly intelligent is anything from moderately shitty to absolutely miserable about 90% of the time. I could never choose to be outright _stupid_ (I abhor stupidity), but if I were able time travel or something, to change it at all, I think I would definitely choose to be markedly less intelligent than I am. The few and meager perks really are almost not worth it. (*another twist of intelligence, for some reason, people assume that you think you are infallible. This makes many people pounce upon, or even deliberately seek out, any opportunity to challenge you; only to become angry or sullen if you pass the "test". By contrast, such people take a bizarre level of delight in any and every instance where you are proven to be merely human, as though the "infallibility" were some brash claim that you made, rather than an assumption of theirs.)

[@aanyaj7997]

+Nojuan Especial wow I never really thought about that

[@xiwang2129]

+Shin Latte Well said, ss or brother? Skilled Machivellian-

[@EDUARDO12348]

+Shin Latte Can please you give an example of a topic you would like to discuss

[@cheleine]

I am Greek and I've been reading Plato in school and ever since. His points and ideas are brilliant and can be applied in real life even to this day. He had brilliant ideas about the world, especially if you consider how different people where thinking back then. This is a nice try to explain his theory but has many mistakes. For example the shadows were caused by the light of a fire not the sun's and the man who got out of the cave, wasn't magically freed one day he did it himself from his own will to get out and it wasn't easy. Also the design of the cave is wrong and many other key things of the allegory. You should at least do a better research beforehand.

[@TheChattounet]

they made it more simple to make it easier to understand, everyone can understand the true meaning

[@masterk9414]

Panelele?

[@LooseToots]

@@TheChattounet If only anyone knew the true meaning of anything. Maybe read it again ;)

[@TheChattounet]

@@LooseToots why would i, as i already understand the idea;..

[@LooseToots]

@@TheChattounet There is no one idea, or correct idea. Each time you read it you should be able to discern a different meaning. Truths are subjective, not objective.

[@etienlila8078]

Couldn't have said it better. Ur the best man

[@thomaskaram1310]

I feel like I’m going to have an existential crisis.

[@matheusprado1076]

For me TED ED is one of the best KZbin channels of all time. For sure on my top 3. But they left a very important detail about the prisoner painful and hard ascension* from the darkness of the underground* cave to the higher* beautiful outside world which represents beauty in all* aspects and forms of life, truth and justice, our ignorance*, and stubbornness towards all. *Core details

[@hailtozorp3483]

PLatos alligory of the GOON CAVE

[@wondrousparrot2815]

TRUE

[@hackerrh725]

😂😂😂😂 coom and consoom

[@user-ci2lg1lw5b]

새로운것을 받아들일때 마음을 열어야한다는것을 다시한번 생각하게 해주었습니다. 마음을 닫고 있으면 배울 수 없는것 같습니다. 좋은 시간이 되었습니다. 감사합니다.

[@reganw.9588]

I'm glad I'm self-studying philosophy and other subjects I'm passionate about. Watching it for school would kill its wonder as some of you mentioned. This is very interesting but I have a math quiz tomorrow :(