Theory of the Cave- Allegory of the Cave I made this story(more like rearranged it and added some stuff like a remix.), inspired by "Theory of the save" and I wanted to share it. 'Sleeping people"(not realizing themselves) are inside a cave with their heads chained toward a wall, and they see shadows of themselves and their world that is cast from the light of a fire behind them, which they are unaware of because they are unable to turn their heads to see what is behind them. Being unaware they believe that the shadows they see is real, so they begin to define and label them. Behind them lies puppet masters that cast shadows off puppets on the wall. The people unaware, believe that the shadows of puppets as real threats, so they act according as the master of puppets commands them to fight terrorism and remember 9/11, still unaware that is is only a shadow. When one realizes that his head cannot turn, he realizes that their are shackles, so he pulls his head free and looks behind him. He sees the fire burning and the puppets and the puppet master, and below the master a narrow corridor of light, distorted by the smoke of the fire. What he sees puzzles him so he asks people that are chained next to him what it is. "your crazy, I don't get it, your a heretic, its just a hallucination, just live for this." Still puzzled the man gets up and walks through the haze of smoke uncertain of what will happen to him. Then he sees the light, and he now understands the illusion and he walks out the corridor of light into a whole other world, where the light of the sun is warm, and he see all things around him and the light fills his being and he comes enlightened. Unafraid and understanding he walks back into the cave and begins speaking to his brothers and sisters about truth. Some fear him and call him names and make fun of him, others say nothing and think about it, other use their hands and begin to feel the shackles that are on their heads. "Don't be afraid, the shackles are loose," the enlighten man says. Love and light, always peace
I was always fond of the allegory of the cave. Really enjoyed the story you wrote! Thanks for sharing
I really enjoyed your story. In my philosophy class, we were talking about this and I said that people are afraid of what is out there, even though the enlightened man came to them and told them about his journeys. Some people are afraid of the change, and perhaps afraid of stepping into a worse cave. One Love, 213374you
Loved it. Never heard it before though. This really helped me yesterday, I was in a shitty mood all around. Thanks OP, and I mean that, im sure ill be thinking of this for years to come.
Excuse me for being rude, but... Romeo and Juliet was inspired by Pyramus and Thisbe... If Plato had copy write, you'd be sued... You basically rewrote the Allegory of The Cave, just changing a few minor details here and there
The allegory of the cave explains so much in society. If you're (obviously the OP is) familiar with Plato's metaphysics, you know that all the shit we are obsessed with (particulars) like money, clothes, cars, houses, are only the shadows. True happiness and true understanding comes from knowledge of the forms, and pure knowledge, thinking, mathematics. Plato is very interesting, but I'm more with Aristotle, in that particulars are also important. That is where the knowledge of THIS world comes from.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't "dumbing down" subject matter the reason why the American educational system is failing us?
But what good is information if the reader has no reference of understanding? I am a few years out of school, and the whole time I felt like I was coming off the assembly line. Do you know what I mean? The education is made to benefit the society rather then the individual.
I agree with See Emily Play. You just paraphrased the Allegory of the Cave, the only addition is the 9/11 part. It really isn't that hard of a read, though it does explain the majority of society. And you didn't create a reference of understanding, you just dumbed it down. The reference of understanding is one's life. You just made a synopsis. That being said, I love the Allegory of the Cave, and though it was a synopsis, it got the point across. It's just that I wouldn't say its a story you made.
Your words spell truth to me. I enjoy Plato's insights, it seems to fit well in my life. Honestly I am not to familiar with Aristotle, would you care to share your insights?
As DepletedUranium said, it really isn't hard to understand. If someone understood the allegory in your post, I see no reason why they wouldn't understand the original. I fully agree with you on the education bit, though. I hate how everyone comes out of high school with the same ideas. Don't get me wrong though, I don't think this thread is pointless or anything. Hopefully it opened a few people's eyes and got some people interested in Plato and classical philosophy in general. I just didn't dig that you claimed it was "inspired" by his Allegory of the Cave, but I noticed that your OP has been edited, so it's all cool Now that that's out of the way, I think it's probably one of the most important and influential pieces of work ever written. I don't know much about Bill Hicks or whether he was inspired by Plato, but I see many similarities between the Allegory of the Cave and his "It's Just a Ride" routine. You should check it out if you haven't already [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMUiwTubYu0&feature=related"]YouTube- Bill Hicks - It's Just A Ride[/ame]
Oh yea, I love bill hicks. So much anger, so much passion haha. Hallucinogens it seems almost spells out that we are in a world of forms, at least I noticed from my experience. Actually when I think about it I didn't realize this world of forms(cave) until I did salvia. Do you know what I speak of? I wonder if these philosophers ever smoked pot or ate mushrooms. My aim is usually for my more simple minded brother and sisters.