What Is Education - Allegory of the Cave Essay - 1072 Words

Dear College Bound Student, You are about to embark upon an important journey. You are going to pursue a higher education. To succeed in attaining a higher education, you must first understand what is education. Everyone from ancient Greek philosophers to modern day English professors have evaluated the definition and goal of education. You must gather the knowledge of these humanitarians to understand the definition education, thereby directing you down the right path towards an enlightening college experience. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato describes education in his Allegory of the Cave as a process of spiritual enlightenment. According to Plato: If (one) is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and†¦show more content†¦(129). Joon was different from other students who had the potential of enlightenment because he put forth the effort to understand the information he was given in his courses. When a student puts his need for entertainment and satisfaction aside, and takes the initiative to gain knowledge, he/she allows the material to form himself/herself into an intellectual. Joon is a prime example of a student who looks beyond getting a good grade, and focuses his college experience to acquire an education. If you want to take charge of your college education, you should model after Joon and pursue the knowledge presented in your classes. You must look beyond the homework and tests as grades, and perceive them as academic opportunities for you to utilize your understanding of the material. This is relative to Platos interpretation of education, where the prisoner made the effort to achieve knowledge, instead of returning to the cave, and attained spiritual enlightenment. It can then be saidShow M oreRelatedAllegory Of The Cave Essay1038 Words   |  5 Pagesthroughout his allegory of the cave; the allegory represents various philosophical ideas about the metaphysics of reality, epistemology, and education. In the allegory, Plato imagined a group of prisoners in a cave where they lived their entire life chained so that they can only see the back side of the cave. Behind them is a stage where people or animals can walk, and behind the stage is a huge fire that throws the shadows of the walking materials on the back side of the cave. Therefore, theRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave1382 Words   |  6 Pageshis most intricate, yet his most important figure: the Allegory of the Cave. Socrates calls on the interlocutors to imagine a dimly lit cave in which a group of prisoners are chained behind a wall in such a way that they cannot move and are forced to stare at a wall all day. Thanks to a small fire, the prisoners are able to see the shadows of their imprisoners and images their imprisoners projected on the wall. Having always been in the cave, the prisoners believe the shadows are true; similarlyRead MoreThe Allegory of the Cave907 Words   |  4 PagesRepublic where he sets out to ans wer many question such as; what is justice, why does man follow the law, and how do implications of society affect our behavior. The most interesting topic from the Republic is from Book VII, the allegory of the cave. With the allegory of the cave Plato gives us the power to break the chains that bind us down and leads us to see the light. In the allegory of the cave Plato sets the scene with humans in a cave that have been chained since childhood so they are restrictedRead MoreAllegories of Life1682 Words   |  7 PagesThe Allegory’s of Life In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato uses a vast spectrum of imagery to explain ones descent from the cave to the light. While Plato uses this Allegory to explain his point through Socrates to Glaucon. This allegory has many different meanings. The Allegory can be used in many different ways, from religion to politics to ones own intellectual enlightenment, or it can be interpreted as the blinded person in a colt like reality. Are we all prisoners in a world that is forcedRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave1086 Words   |  5 PagesExplain the allegorical significance(s) of the cave in Plato’s Republic. How is the cave an allegory of Plato’s philosophy? How is the allegory of the cave an allegory for enlightenment or philosophical education? How and why are most human beings like prisoners in a cave? Who are the puppeteers? What does the world outside the cave represent? What does the sun represent? Etc. What is Plato’s Theory of the Forms? What is a Form? How do es the allegory of the cave express Plato’s Theory of the Forms? HowRead MoreEssay on The Allegory of the Cave in Platos Republic901 Words   |  4 PagesThe Allegory of the Cave in Platos Republic This paper discussed The Allegory of The Cave in Platos Republic, and tries to unfold the messages Plato wishes to convey with regard to his conception of reality, knowledge and education. THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE Platos Allegory of the Cave is a story that conveys his theory of how we come to know, or how we attain true knowledge. It is also an introduction into his metaphysical and ethical system. In short, it is a symbolic explanationRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave1716 Words   |  7 PagesIn Plato’s, Allegory of the cave, a key theory I found was the importance of education. Plato uses an â€Å"allegory to illustrate the dilemma facing the psyche in the ascent to knowledge of the imperishable and unchanging forms† (104) Based on my research of the republic, the allegory can reveal multiple hidden messages. Plato describes, ordinary mortals are chained within an underground chamber, which according to Fiero, represents the psyche imprisoned within the human body. These mortals can’t lookRead MoreAnalysis of Platos Allegory of the Cave948 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Allegory of the Cave Platos Allegory of the Cave is also termed as the Analogy of the Cave, Platos Cave, or the Parable of the Cave. It was used by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work The Republic to illustrate our nature in its education and want of education. It comprises of a fictional dialogue between Platos teacher Socrates and Platos brother Glaucon. Socrates gives a description of a group of people who spent their lifetime facing a blank wall chained to the wall of a cave. TheseRead MoreComparative Essay1046 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish 1101 29 September 2014 Plato’s Allegory and Benjamin Franklin’s Temple of Learning Set in 390 B.C. and 1799, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Benjamin Franklin’s Temple of Learning demonstrate more contrasting than similar ideas on the topic of education. The two literary works are profoundly analyzed by modern society and are part of group discussions throughout school classrooms. Each author has a specific way of getting his point across. The Allegory depicts how a prisoner gained knowledgeRead MorePlato Education Reform Essay1574 Words   |  7 Pagesthat â€Å"education is the craft concerned with..turning around and with how the soul can most easily and effectively be made to do it† (Plato 190). In this paper, I will propose Plato’s reform for the American education system through analyzing his account of education, the nature and different kinds of education using the allegory of the cave, its correlation to kallipolis, the nature of the soul, and his metaphysical theory of forms. I shall argue that Plato would propose the Ame rican education system