Jacob+Tyles+RP+Post+2

RP Post 2

(1). Is ignorance truly bliss? (2). Allegory of the Cave (From “The Republic” Book VII) (3). Plato (4). [] (Book VII) (5). I have accessed this source a few times in the past week (5/19-5/23) (6). SOAPSTone-  S: Socrates and Glaucon  O: The consideration of knowledge and reality  A: A philosophy major, Glaucon, the reader  P: To delineate a hypothetical allegory that embodies humanity  S: Reality and the perception of knowledge  Tone: Erudite, scholarly, considerate, quizzical (7). In Book VII, Plato writes of Socrates presenting the allegory of the cave to Glaucon, another prominent philosopher and Plato’s older brother. The Allegory of the Cave is concerned with our human perception of reality, and really strives to make a point that by pursuing knowledge, we come closer and closer to reaching the “Form of Good,” a sort of state that represents unadulterated knowledge. (8). The Allegory of the Cave argues that it is better to be a “poor servant of a poor master,” than to be confined and content to the walls of a cave, knowing nothing but darkness and shadows. (9). I am considerably persuaded by Plato’s claims. We as human beings strive to learn more and more about the confines we call our “universe.” Plato, through Socrates, explains how we are like those trapped within the cave, how the sun is our light, and that reality is the shadow. While there are assumptions made, they are all fairly sound and reasonable. I buy into what Plato has to say. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">(10). “Whereas, our argument shows that the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already; and that just as the eye was unable to turn from darkness to light without the whole body, so too the instrument of knowledge can only by the movement of the whole soul be turned…” (197). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live in this manner?” (195). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“And he will count the one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other, “(196). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">“To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.” (194)