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Plato: The Allegory of the Cave 
 
 
A. Delacruz, D. Blinn, E. Figueroa 
 
1. The key philosophical points of The Allegory of the Cave are: 
<ul><li>People can be deceived by society. </li></ul>&quot;To them i said, the truth would literary be nothing but shadows of the images.&quot; As a whole body of people living in an imperfect society we know only what we are told. 
<ul><li>People are afraid to see reality.</li></ul>&quot;At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows.&quot; 
<ul><li>Knowledge can be found through experience.</li></ul>&quot;...so too the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned from the world of becoming into that of being, and learn by degrees to endure the sight of being, and of the brightest and best of being, or in other words, of the good.&quot; 
 
 
2. Where, and in what ways, did these points appear in the arguments and discussions of our Founding Father's as the philosophical underpinnings of our nation were developed? 
 
 In Thomas Jefferson’s notes on the State of Virginia he says, “And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.” This thought relates to Plato’s key point that people are deceived by society. Jefferson explains his doubts about the security of the liberties in his nation. The people are expected to feel secure about their liberty and rights, but when an influential political image shows doubts on this topic then it is easy to think that the people are being deceived by society. 
 
<ul><li>Do you think it is easier to change your way of life after finding out that what you believe in is not true? Or do you think it is easier to continue this way of life because it is what you are accustomed to? </li></ul> 
 
 In Thomas Paine’s, Common Sense, he says, “Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part.” This quote shows Paine’s belief it was time for the people to face reality and stand up for themselves. It relates to Plato’s key point that people are afraid to see reality because at the time that Common Sense was written our nation was on the verge of a revolution in which people were no longer afraid to see the reality in Britain’s tyranny. 
 
 
<ul><li>Do you think that if the residents of the cave were given a pamphlet like Common Sense, would they be less naive and see past the environment of the cave?</li></ul> 
 
 · In James Madison’s, Federalist No. 5, he says that “A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.” This quote relates to Plato’s point that knowledge is learned through experience. This is because with experience one can see what works in a situation and what doesn't. 
<ul><li>Why do you think knowledge is learned better with experience? </li></ul> 
 
3. Where, and in what ways, did these points appear in the US Constitution? 
 
 
First Point: People can be deceived by society: 
 
Article I: Section 2: Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. 
Article I: Section 3: Clause 3: Clause 3: No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. 
Article II: Section 1: Clause 5: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. 
- These quotes show all of the limitations and requirements in order to be included in political positions. Many people think that anyone can take the position of being a Representative, Senator, or President. What people do not know is that it takes a lot in order to become part of a high position in politics and that they are easily deceived to think that anyone can become a part of such a high position. 
 
 
Second Point: People are afraid to see reality: 
 
Article IV: Section 2: Clause 2: A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime. 
Article IV: Section 2: Clause 3: No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due. 
- People that commit crimes usually don’t think about the consequences that follow their acts. Most residents of the United States think that crimes and their punishments are easily put off and that the consequences will not be grand, but crimes are treated very harshly in the United States and will not be tolerated and this is what a lot of people do not see and understand. According to the constitution, one that commits a crime and flees to another state shall be returned back the original state in order to serve their punishment. 
 
 
Third Point: Knowledge can be learned through experience: 
 
Preamble: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.iroquoisdemocracy.pdx.edu/html/learning%20aids.htm#tranquility" rel="nofollow">tranquility</a>, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.iroquoisdemocracy.pdx.edu/html/learning%20aids.htm#posterity" rel="nofollow">posterity</a>, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 
- The Allegory of the Cave states that only the ones that find knowledge can be true leaders. The Preamble ensures that the most intelligent leaders have created the Constitution and that the best has been put in place for the nation. 
 
 
<ul><li>What types of symbolism were shown throughout the Allegory of the Cave that represents America and its people under the US Constitution?</li></ul> 
4) Where, and in what ways, did these points appear in Brown’s Edgar Huntly? 
® The first example in how these points connect with Brown’s Edgar Huntly work is how in Plato: Allegory of the Cave the shadows are the deception, the people trapped in the cave are deceived. &quot;Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws in the opposite wall of the cave.&quot; Since they were there since childhood they can’t make out the image very well so are easily deceived into believing anything. This connects with Brown’s work because just like the shadows are the deception so can society. Huntly a young man growing up in a society where there are rules and laws, laws are mostly broken and behind these laws there is corruption. 
® In Plato’s there is a connection with Huntly such as when people are afraid to see reality and the true nature of a human being in which Society tries to cover. For example, &quot;Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner.&quot; Again this will go back to the shadows in the cave, stating that the people cannot see anything if they don’t move their heads or were not allowed to they are restraint down. Such as society and laws can do the same to the people. 
® Another way that both the novel and Plato’s work connect is, &quot;Knowledge can be learned through experience.&quot; This shows that a person has to overcome the shadows, find the true nature of them. Such as in Edgar Huntly. As Edgar is sleep walking he does not know that he is, shadowing him from reality and bringing about the true nature of man. When he himself is found in the cave 
Questions: 
1) Do you think or believe that we as a society are just as trapped as the people in those caves? 
2) If so do you think the government and laws try to restrict us(control) do they try to alter our perception? What about other countries is ours more or less open minded or do other countries truly and deliberatley try to control thier people? 
3)Just like the people in the caves seemed more like an experiment, does the government experiment with us, puts a set of rules and laws out, and sees what work and what doesn't?