What is the allegory of the cave?

Answer by  Answer90 (69)

The allegory of the cave is a philosophical thought created by Plato. It describes a man being chained to a wall inside a cave. The man can only see the shadows of men and shapes on the cave wall. Plato compares philosophers to a man who is freed from his chains and is able to see what really exists.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

Caves can represent a return to the primal, animal side of man, compared to the civilizing nature of buildings. Caves can also represent a return to the womb of mother Earth, similar to kivas of the American southwest.

Answer by  JBFLA (285)

It was written by the Greek philosopher Plato. The story itself takes place in a cave in which the people see only shadows, never the true light itself. In the allegory, Plato presents the idea that our senses cannot be relied upon to apprehend reality, instead he says the intellect must be used to understand the world.

Answer by  HeidiW (371)

Commonly known as The Myth of the Cave is from Plato's work "The Republic". It's an allegory used to present and illustrate our nature in its education and want of education and how we mistake appearance for reality.