2) In Republic VII, Socrates offers the allegory of the cave as an image of the soul’s ignorance or lack of education. Briefly, explain the story of the prisoner’s ascent from the cave and what the objects at the four main levels of the cave story represent in the steps of a soul’s education. How does Socrates define education? (Why must the whole soul be turned?) When a soul reaches the last stage of education, what does it know? Why, according to Socrates, will the philosopher-kings agree to rule in the city?
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To understand the story of the prisoner's ascent from the cave and the objects at the four main levels of the cave story, we need to delve into Plato's Republic VII. Here's a brief explanation of the allegory and its symbolism in the steps of a soul's education:
The allegory of the cave is a fictional story used by Socrates to represent the journey of the soul from ignorance to enlightenment. In the story, there are prisoners who have been chained in a cave their entire lives, facing the back wall. They are only able to see the shadows of objects projected on the wall in front of them.
1. The Shadows: The objects that cast the shadows on the wall represent the illusions and false beliefs that the uneducated soul holds. They symbolize the sensory perceptions and opinions that most people mistake for reality. This is the level of ignorance where the soul remains trapped, unaware of anything beyond appearances.
2. The Objects: In the next stage of the story, one of the prisoners is freed and forced to turn around, facing the fire that illuminates the cave. This represents the first step towards education and the beginning of the soul's ascent from ignorance. The prisoner sees the actual objects that were casting the shadows, realizing that what he previously perceived as real were just distorted reflections. This corresponds to the stage where the soul starts gaining knowledge and recognizes the existence of a more substantial reality, beyond mere appearances.
3. The Outside World: Continuing the ascent, the prisoner is dragged out of the cave and exposed to the outside world for the first time. Initially, this can be overwhelming and disorienting, as the soul is confronted with the brightness and complexity of the true reality. This stage represents the expansion of knowledge and the soul's encounter with different perspectives and ideas.
4. The Sun: Finally, the prisoner gazes at the sun, which symbolizes the ultimate source of truth, knowledge, and enlightenment. The sun represents the highest level of understanding and the realm of Forms, which is the eternal and unchanging reality of concepts and ideas.
According to Socrates, education is the process of guiding the soul from ignorance to knowledge, from the world of mere appearances to the realm of truth. He argues that the whole soul must be turned because education must involve the complete transformation of an individual, not just a superficial change. Merely acquiring knowledge without transforming one's character and desires would be insufficient.
When a soul reaches the last stage of education, it knows the Forms, or the eternal truths that underlie the physical world. It grasps the essence of concepts such as justice, beauty, and the good. This knowledge allows the soul to understand the true nature of reality and act in accordance with it.
According to Socrates, philosopher-kings will agree to rule in the city because they have reached the highest level of education and possess the knowledge necessary to govern with wisdom and justice. They have seen the truth and are best equipped to guide the city towards the ideal society envisioned by Socrates.