The purpose of Plato’s Cave was to suggest that as a society, we are trapped in a cave of ignorance. Similarly to how the four people were living in a world of illusion, we cannot see past what we have always believed and perceived. Even when some wise thinker realizes that what we value is shallow and unimportant, we shun them because what they suggest is too radical. In the story the person who had escaped found that by becoming Enlightened, he was unable to function in the dark world from where he originated. That being said, the person who escaped the cave was overwhelmed by the light of the Sun and the hugeness of the Earth before feeling grateful to be free. If we reached Enlightenment, perhaps we would feel same progression of emotions. To quote Gloria Steinem: “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off”.
I’m not so sure that there are ways of definitely, unquestionably knowing something. In some cases not believing something unless it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt is impractical and pedantic. I can’t know with 100% certainty that the force of gravity exists, but I’m not going to jump off a building because of that (I’m looking at you, Matrix). To live a somewhat productive life, there are some assumptions we have to make. I know I have to study for exams. Maybe I’ll ace 1/100 tests that I don’t study for. That would be a poor decision because a lot is riding on the slight possibility that my belief that studying is necessary is false. Although Plato may think that I don’t live a ‘good’ life, I think that this kind of living is much more practical than assuming all of my perceptions are wrong. Critical thinking is an excellent tool but it can become futile if overused.
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I’m not so sure that there are ways of definitely, unquestionably knowing something. In some cases not believing something unless it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt is impractical and pedantic. I can’t know with 100% certainty that the force of gravity exists, but I’m not going to jump off a building because of that (I’m looking at you, Matrix). To live a somewhat productive life, there are some assumptions we have to make. I know I have to study for exams. Maybe I’ll ace 1/100 tests that I don’t study for. That would be a poor decision because a lot is riding on the slight possibility that my belief that studying is necessary is false. Although Plato may think that I don’t live a ‘good’ life, I think that this kind of living is much more practical than assuming all of my perceptions are wrong. Critical thinking is an excellent tool but it can become futile if overused.
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