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Discuss Platos Parable of the Cave.Platos parable of the subvert, also known as the parable of the cave, opulently describes beneficial metaphors and elaborate imagery about knowledge, ignorance, truth and fin eithery enlightenment. The allegory of the cave appears at the beginning of Book VII of Platos The Republic, which in it egotism is principally a study of justice, goernment and leadership. In The Republic, Plato describes a cave containing individuals confined to the cave floor, bound by shackles. They are futile to move their heads and stare incessantly at the cave wall directly in front of them. The prisoners cannot see one another. Behind the prisoners burns a fire projecting images of objects, animals and individuals carrying various objects onto the wall of the cave. The prisoners are also conscious(predicate) of conversations occurring behind them. The shadows (skiai) on the wall of the cave are believed by the prisoners to be real. This is the reality of the prison ers their truth, their knowledge of the beingness. The analogy continues and one of the prisoners frees himself from the chains. Now that he is unchained he is able to rotate his head, see the entrance of the cave, look and straits towards the fire. The newly liberated captive finds this agonizing and is overwhelmed by the light of twain the cave and as he leaves the cave the sun. He has spent his blameless life in almost complete darkness, with contain capabilities, and minimal movement. The freedman is now faced with the chilling realization that his entire life has been limited by his experiences of the cave floor. His life has been lived in the shadows and he has been aware of solitary(prenominal) the reflections of reality and truth.These prisoners represent the majority of man, the multitude of people who remain all their lives in a state of ignorance beholding yet shadows of reality and hear only echos of the truth (F. Coplesto, 1985, pg 161). The prisoners represe nt us humankind. Plato attempts to rattling(a) humans to the gap that our senses may be deceiving us and that a great reality exists in the light of truth out side the cave and our own knowledge. For most of us this reality is beyond our sight and only an extraordinary life-changing event may give us a observe to view this truth this new reality. The cave challenges individuals to reflect on the possibility that there is a reality... ...n there senses and search for truth. Plato describes the danger of accepting the world as we see and sense it with out challenge and critical thought. Although over two and a half thousand years old Platos message still resounds in a world preoccupied with consumerism and self gratification. Reference list 1)Copleston F, S.J. (1962) A History of philosophy Book one. take to books. 2) Foster M. M.A, PH.D. (1942). Masters of political thought. George G. Harrap and CO. LTD. 3) Hare R.M. (1991). Founders of thought. Oxford University press.4) Ja ckson R (2001) Plato the founders guild. Hodder and Stoughton.5) Magee, B. (1998). The Story of philosophy. A Dorling Kindersley Book6) Mcinerny R M (1963). A History of Western Philosophy from the beginnings of Philosophy to Plotinus. Henry Regnery Company. 7) Robinson D and Groves J (2000) Introducing Plato. Icon books UK, Totem books USA. 8) Scott-Kakure D, Castagnetto S, Benson H, Taschek W and Hurley P. (1993) History of philosophy. Harper Perennial.9) Solomon R C and Higgins K M. (1996) A Short history of Philosophy. Oxford University press Inc. 10) Weil, S. http//rivertext .com