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We all have our own perception of what reality is; reality to a con artist is the next con and reality to an alcoholic is the next drink. However, Plato explains reality a little differently. “The Allegory of the Cave” written by Plato symbolizes man’s struggle to reach understanding and enlightenment. Plato was the most creative and influential disciples of Socates’. Plato wrote in dialogues frequently using Socrates’ as the principal speaker. The importance of “The Allegory of the Cave” is to show how humans perceive reality, gain enlightenment, and use the enlightenment. First, Plato shows how humans perceive reality by saying “Behold! Human beings living in the underground den; …here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance” (315-316). To the humans living in the den, reality is what they see and hear. They are comfortable in their familiar surroundings. “Men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall.
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