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Article : Allegory of the cave, Evaluation

Allegory Of the cave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave

There are many details left out in the symbolism portion of this article, I believe that the symbolism including, the sun, the line, and the cave are not properly emphasized in the section of symbolism and could be seen as useful, under this allegory. It would also be useful to be able to make a connection to the metaphor of the line in this article as this is a crucial part of elaborating this information, including the line between the visible and intelligible world.The article for the most part does well in writing in a neutrual tone, but does fail in fully forming the theory in a comprehensible way. The theory of the Allegory of the cave is truly important in Plato's philosophy due to the divided line that Plato establishes in his work. Without bringing this into the article it misses the crucial point that many Scholars may be looking for when attempting to research the theory. The portion under symbolism has a limitation as well. As the editor only spoke on some generalized points of the symbolism in the article it by incorporating new details it will provide for a more well rounded article that can become a very pertinent resource to others. I also believe that the area in which the return to the cave is explained is very limiting in terms of not telling us the full reasons for both the cave dwellers and the freed prisoner to comply with the actions they commit to as there is different interpretations of the theory. Through the section of scholarly discussion there are still many opinions that have the possibility of being added to the article for further expansion of information. I also think this " Scholarly Discussion" section could also have a better organizational format.

Citations

Raven, J. E. “Sun, Divided Line, and Cave.” The Classical Quarterly, vol. 3, no. 1/2, 1953, pp. 22–32. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/637158.

Malcolm, John. “The Line and the Cave.” Phronesis, vol. 7, no. 1, 1962, pp. 38–45. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4181698.

Losin, Peter. “EDUCATION AND PLATO'S PARABLE OF THE CAVE.” The Journal of Education, vol. 178, no. 3, 1996, pp. 49–65. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/42741825.

Socrates suggests that the shadows are reality for the prisoners because they have never seen anything else; they do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real things outside the cave which they do not see (514b-515a).

Symbolism[edit] (revised by Kira)

"Plato's Cave Allegory" by Markus Maurer The allegory contains many forms of symbolism used to describe the illusions of the world. The cave represents the superficial world for the prisoners. It further represents the visual value of knowledge, in a sense stating that those in the cave live in a world accepting what is given at face value. The darkness that engulfs them represents ignorance because of this darkness they can not know the true object that forms that shadows leaving them to believe these shadows to be the true form of an object. The chains that prevent the prisoners from leaving the cave represent there holding in the realm of ignorance, meaning the chains are stopping them from learning the truth. The shadows that cast on the walls of the cave represent the superficial truth, which is an illusion that the prisoners see in the cave. The freed prisoner represents those in society who see the physical world for the illusion that it is. The sun that is glaring the eyes of the prisoners represents the real truth of the actual world.The light further represents wisdom as even in the cave the small bits of light that are provided allow them to know shapes.

Themes in the allegory appearing elsewhere in Plato's work[edit]

The allegory is probably related to Plato's theory of Forms, according to which the "Forms" (or "Ideas"), and not the material world known to us through sensation, possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality. Only knowledge of the Forms constitutes real knowledge or what Socrates considers "the good". Socrates informs Glaucon that the most excellent people must follow the highest of all studies, which is to behold the Good. Those who have ascended to this highest level, however, must not remain there but must return to the cave and dwell with the prisoners, sharing in their labors and honors.

Plato's Phaedo contains similar imagery to that of the allegory of the Cave; a philosopher recognizes that before philosophy, his soul was "a veritable prisoner fast bound within his body... and that instead of investigating reality of itself and in itself is compelled to peer through the bars of a prison."

The Sun, The Line, and The Cave (revised by Kira)

Various Scholars also debate between the possibility of a connection between the work in the allegory and the cave and the work done by Plato considering the Analogy of the divided line and the Analogy of the Sun. The Divided line is a theory presented to us in Plato's work the Republic. This is displayed through a dialogue given between Socrates and Glaucon. In which they explore the possibility of a visible and intelligible world. with the visible world consisting of items such as shadows and reflections (displayed as AB) then elevating to the physical item itself (displayed as BC) while the intelligible world consists of mathematical reasoning (displayed by CD)and philosophical understanding (displayed by DE) Many seeing this as an explanation to the way in which the prisoner in the Allegory of the cave goes through the journey. First in the visible word with shadows such as those on the wall. "Socrates suggests that the shadows are reality for the prisoners because they have never seen anything else; they do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real things outside the cave which they do not see"(514b-515a) then the realization of the physical with the understanding of concepts such as the tree being separate from its shadow. It enters the intelligible world as the prisoner looks at the sun. Leading to the Analogy of the Sun.

The Divided Line – (AC) is generally taken as representing the visible world and (CE) as representing the intelligible world.

The Analogy of the Sun refers to the moment in book six in which Socrates after being urged by Glaucon to define goodness purposes instead, an analogy through a "child of goodness". Socrates reveals this "child of goodness" to be the sun, proposing that just as the sun illuminates, bestowing the ability to see and be seen by the eye, with its light so the idea of goodness illumines the intelligible with truth. Leading some scholars to believe this forms a connection of the sun and the intelligible world within the realm of the allegory of the cave.

Scholarly discussion[edit]

Scholars debate the possible interpretations of the allegory of the Cave, either looking at it from an epistemological standpoint – one based on the study of how Plato believes we come to know things – or through a political (Politeia) lens.^[6] Much of the scholarship on the allegory falls between these two perspectives, with some completely independent of either. The epistemological view and the political view, fathered by Richard Lewis Nettleship and A.S. Ferguson respectively, tend to be discussed most frequently.^[6] Nettleship interprets the allegory of the cave as representative of our innate intellectual incapacity, in order to contrast our lesser understanding with that of the philosopher, as well as an allegory about people who are unable or unwilling to seek truth and wisdom. Ferguson, on the other hand, bases his interpretation of the allegory on the claim that the cave is an allegory of human nature and that it symbolizes the opposition between the philosopher and the corruption of the prevailing political condition.^[7][8]

Cleavages have emerged within these respective camps of thought, however. Much of the modern scholarly debate surrounding the allegory has emerged from Martin Heidegger's exploration of the allegory, and philosophy as a whole, through the lens of human freedom in his book The Essence of Human Freedom: An Introduction to Philosophy and The Essence of Truth: On Plato's Cave Allegory and Theaetetus. In response, Hannah Arendt, an advocate of the political interpretation of the allegory, suggests that through the allegory, Plato "wanted to apply his own theory of ideas to politics". Conversely, Heidegger argues that the essence of truth is a way of being and not an object. Arendt criticised Heidegger's interpretation of the allegory, writing that "Heidegger…is off base in using the cave simile to interpret and 'criticize' Plato's theory of ideas".

Other Article Evaluations

Brain in a Vat Theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_in_a_vat

The Brain in the Vat theory is presented but not truly explained in an efficient manner. It doesn't go in depth with how it is explained or in which ways the theory would truly be used in realms of philosophy of science fiction or other manners.

Reliabilism and Brains in Vats by Jon Altschul Brains in a vat by Hilary Putnam

Platonic Epistemology https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_epistemology

This is an incomplete work. The citations have not been finalized and the work does not have adequate information to be able to be used for proper research for scholars or students. Platonic Epistemology, Socratic Education: On Learning Platonic Forms by Coleen P. Zoller 15:51, 13 February 2019 (UTC)Kiralopez13 (talk) 2.12.2019