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Question: Explain the symbolism within Plato’s allegory of the cave and how it justifies Plato’s point that ‘philosophers should be kings’. (30 Marks)
Answer: In this essay I will be explaining the symbolism of the cave in Plato’s allegory, and justifying how his point - that ‘philosophers should be kings’ - links to this.
In the allegory of the cave there are a multitude of symbolic suggestions used and presented to us. The idea of a dark cave with no light epitomizes society - a place with no room for imagination or true and free thought. Ignorance plugs society and is therefore shown through this idea of the cave with the chained people representing ignorant people within it. The people in the cave are forced to look at nothing but the shadows they see before them, cast upon a wall. The shadows are a false reality, an idea and way of life enforced on us and are yet, perceived to be the truth. The shadows embody the idea of a world of ‘sensory perception’; something which Plato says is an illusion, and actual reality is somewhe...(short extract)
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- Subject: Classics
- Course: Classics
- Level: A-Level
- Year: Not applicable
- Mark: Not available
- Words: 752
- Date submitted: September 30, 2013
- Date written: Not available
- References: No
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 5065
