The Allegory of the Cave by Plato Essays - 1111 Words

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato The Allegory of the Cave, by Plato, explains that people experience emotional and intellectual revelations throughout different stages in their lives. This excerpt, from his dialogue The Republic, is a conversation between a philosopher and his pupil. The argument made by this philosopher has been interpreted thousands of times across the world. My own interpretation of this allegory is simple enough as Plato expresses his thoughts as separate stages. The stages, very much like life, are represented by growing realizations and newfound pains. Therefore, each stage in The Allegory of the Cave reveals the relation between the growth of the mind and age. The first stage of the excerpt,†¦show more content†¦Although, when they do encounter new experiences, they sometimes learn that the experience has caused them great pain. In addition, teenagers may change their vision of life. Usually teens become hardened and more used to pain; they become more familiar with the real world. Even though many teenagers feel they have experienced a great deal of pain and think they know it all, they have not witnessed an extremely harsh life until completely on their own. Adult life is what Plato intends to symbolize in the next stage, when the people are forced to see the sun. In this stage, the people are brought up a steep ascent and forced to gaze into the sun. Once more, the people experience sharp pains as they are not used to the light of the sun. The pains of adulthood may be anything including relationships, jobs, and finances. After those who are forced to stare at the sun have grown accustomed to it, they see the big picture and have greater awareness. Adults too have to persevere through their own pains, but the reward is worth it: a family, job, house, etc.. And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?(6) After seeing the light of the sun and contemplating on previous stages in life, the people pity the time spent in theShow MoreRelatedAllegory Of The Cave By Plato1722 Words   |  7 PagesAllegory of t he Cave Human experiences are an everyday aspect of individuals lives. The way individuals see, touch, smell, feel, and even remember is through unique experiences. People do not realize it, but our everyday life and community shape how the mind experiences certain events. Because of these, the way individuals see the world is different from person to person. The mind interprets the world around the individuals, however, it can only interpret what it is exposed to. It is up to the individualsRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave By Plato1511 Words   |  7 PagesIn our class, we read three powerful and meaningful texts. We started by reading The Allegory of the Cave by Plato, a Greek philosopher who lived from 428-347 B.C.E. This text led to our reading of The Four Idols by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher who came much later than Plato and lived from 1562 to 1626. Lastly, we read The Word Weavers/World Makers by Neil Postman, who lived from 1931-2003. There seems to be a recurring theme in which they themselves deal with ideas of knowledge and illusionsRead MoreAllegory of the Cave Plato6021 Words   |  25 Pagescomfortable with this unawareness because it is all we know. Platos Allegory of the Cave† captures the essence of the journey to enlightenment. Clearly, the thought of sameness and normality thinking has transcended from Platos time to today. Thus, the allegory is relevant to contemporary essential life. Organizations are known for fostering a culture of group thinking. The danger inherent in group thinking is the object lesson that Plato tries to convey. When we refuse to engage in critical thinkingRead MoreThe Allegory of the Cave by Plato916 Words   |  4 PagesThe â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† by Plato represents the differences in the way we perceive reality and what we believe is real. In his story, Plato starts by saying that in a cave, there are prisoners chained down and are forced to look at a wall. The prisoners are unable to turn their heads to see what is going on behind them and are completely bound to the floor. Behind the prisoners, puppeteers hide and cast shadows on the wall in line with the prisoners’ sight, thus giving the prisoners their onlyRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave1093 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Cave begins by explaining the conditions of the people inside the cave. The people inside sit side by side. Their hands and legs are chained to the ground. They face a wall in the cave. The cave is illuminated by a fire behind the people. On the wall, there are projections of shadows created by the fire and objects that passes by fire. The prisoners dont know this, of course, because they are bound so tight that they cant turn their heads. There are people that are carrying objects to createRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave.1145 Words   |  5 PagesIn Plato s The Allegory of the Cave, Socrates tells an allegory of the hardship of understanding reality. Using metaphors Socrates comp ares a prisoner in an underground cave who is exploring a new strange world he never knew of to people who are trying to find a position of knowledge in reality. Through it, Plato attempts to map a man s journey through education and describes what is needed to achieve a perfect society. According to Socrates, most people tend to rely on their senses excessivelyRead MoreAllegory Of The Cave By Plato974 Words   |  4 Pages Have you ever felt so trapped in a small space you began to lose your mind? In Plato’s short story, â€Å"Allegory of the Cave,† the author uses allegory as a means to justify that the world is a reflection of more perfect and ideal forms. As the story begins, Plato’s teacher, Socrates, presents a world of alternate reality to Plato’s brother Glaucon by telling him to imagine a cave full of prisoner’s who have been chained their entire lives. The shadows, voices, and figures given to them by the puppeteersRead MoreAllegory Of T he Cave By Plato934 Words   |  4 Pagesour lives, every person has asked themselves a varied version of the same questions: What is â€Å"reality†, moreover what determines our perception of reality, and what am I supposed to do with (or about) it? Throughout â€Å"Allegory of the Cave,† Plato attempts to answer these questions. Plato suggests that humans have a constrained view of the world, and that reality consist of two different perceptions, a bodily eye† and a â€Å"mind’s eye.† The â€Å"mind’s eye†, the hypothetical site of visual recollection orRead 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 h idden 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 MorePlato s Allegory Of Cave1979 Words   |  8 PagesJaneva Walters December 6, 2016 Dr. T. Brady ENG 391 Plato’s Allegory of Cave The allegory of the cave is regarded as one of the most reputed and acclaimed works by the Greek philosopher Plato in modern literature as well as philosophy. First published and presented in his work known as a Republic (514a–520a), the dialogues that have been used as conversation can be regarded as fictitious as the main conversation takes place between Plato’s brother Glaucon and Socrates. First and foremost, allegorical

Should Smoking Public Places - 1854 Words

A lot of people smoke but what they do not realize is exactly how harmful it is to smoke. All over the world teens try to smoke because they think it is cool, or if they do it then they will fit in with the group. Should the government allow smoking public places? Is the fact that some states allow people to smoke in public places influencing teens and other to start smoking? These are a few questions that many people ask when they think of this topic, along with the health of people who smoke regularly, the laws on smoking, and how much people spend on a stick of cancer. Smoking starts among teens because of peer pressure or thinking that it is cool because everyone does it. There are also teens that are smart and choose not to smoke but yet they still hang out with people that do, what they do not realize is that secondhand smoke is just as bad as smoking a cigarette yourself. Secondhand smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles that includes smoke from a burning product such as cigarettes, hookah or marijuana or smoke that has been exhaled from a person who is smoking. Non-smokers who breathe secondhand smoke inhale the same toxic chemicals as the smoker (Pierce County Health Department). The more smoke you breathe, the more harmful chemicals you will inhale. There is no risk-free level of exposure. According to the American Cancer Society: Each day nearly 3,000 kids under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and another 700 become regular, daily smokers. AboutShow MoreRelatedShould Smoking Be Public Places?912 Words   |  4 PagesDebate about Smoking in Public Places Smoking cigarettes has been around for over two thousand years and is a debatable issue in the United States. The issue with public smoking is the controversy between banning it and not banning it. Many non-smokers view it as a harmful bad habit, while users view it as a choice that they are free to make. Opponents of banning smoking in public places feel that it is a choice and that it will take away their free will. â€Å"They argue that people should have the autonomyRead MoreShould Smoking Be Public Places?1055 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Smoking is hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, and dangerous to the lungs.† -King James I, royalty. Picking up a cigarette, is equivalent to putting a limitation on life. Sadly, numerous people will perform this activity anywhere they are, even where there are signs that read â€Å"no smoking.† Prohibit smoking in public places due to the fact that it can affect others health, pregnancy, and even harm their own body. People should be more aware of the effects smoking has on everyone, not justRead MoreShould Smoking Be Public Places?1110 Words   |  5 Pages Will smoking be convenient in your life? Smoking is the rubbish commodity to buy, sell and to utilize it. Smoking nowadays is creating obstacles to non-smokers and in general pollution to the environment. Some people are habituated to smoking and is now have become a far- reaching issue. Due to smoking it will generate complications in the future. Smoking should be banned in public places. This includes it harms people nearby smokers, causes litter and people can be affected with long-term diseaseRead MoreShould Smoking Be Banned Public Places?941 Words   |  4 Pagesindividuals get older they try to cope with the stresses of everyday life by continuing to smoking. It makes them feel more relaxed and at ease. Whatever the reason is, it is a hard habit to break once one starts. For many smokers today it is getting hard to find a place to smoke. Comedians joke about going to another planet just to light up. Smoking should be banned in public places because smoking is just as ba d for nonsmokers as it is for smokers. The effects of secondhand smoke orRead MoreShould Smoking Be Banned Public Places?885 Words   |  4 Pagesday I walk into public place with a friend right away we sat down to eat, we were having a conversation later we smell cigarette smoke in the air. I start coughing from the smell of smoke. I also notice a lot of customers who like eating dinner at a public place smoking cigarette. Smoking is a big health problem I feel it is not fair to take away cigarette for people who smoke in American who desire smoke cigarette. Even thought the same as the concession is able to be taking place on this topicRead MoreShould Smoking Be Banned Public Places?950 Words   |  4 Pagesday I walk in to public place with a friend right away we sat down to eat, we were having a conversation later we smell cigarette smoke in the air. I start coughing from the smell of smoke. I also notice a lot of customers who like eating dinner at a public place smoking cigarette. Smoking is a big health problem I feel it is not fair to take away cigarette for people who smoke in American who desire smoke cigarette. Even thought the same as the concession is able to be taking place on this topicRead MoreShould Smoking Be Banned Public Places?864 Words   |  4 PagesSmoking is one of the practices which is considered highly dangerous to our health because it impacts the smoker and the people around them. There are approximately one billion smokers. Smoking is a big issue that the nonsmoker faces. For example, when the smokers smoke in public places like restaurants, universities and other public places it hurts the non-smoker. The non-smoker breathing the cigarette, marijuana or hookah smoke from the smoker do both of them are breathing toxic chemicals. In aRead MoreSmoking Should be Banned in Public Places Essays1464 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the past few decades it has come to light that smoking kills. The federal government mandates that every pack of cigarettes carry a warn ing on it that smoking can lead to health problems including death. But the messages are rather clinical, for example: â€Å"Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy.† Smoking is a danger to one’s own health but there is now evidence that smoking can affect others as well. Second hand smoke has been shown to cause cancerRead MoreSmoking in Public Places Should Be Banned Essay474 Words   |  2 PagesSmoking in Public Places Should Be Banned I feel very strongly that smoking in public places should be banned. I will list my reasons for my thinking below and explain why I think this. I cannot stand walking down a street behind someone who is smoking. Every time they exhale I then have to walk into a cloud of their smoke. My clothes smell, because they have been saturated with the smoke, it gets into my hair too. It also affects my health. It was found that sevenRead MoreEssay on Smoking In Public Places Should Be Banned463 Words   |  2 PagesSmoking In Public Places Should Be Banned There should be rules enforced for smoking in public places. Smokers just do not know the negative influence they are spreading. A puff of cigarette can harm a smokers health. When I go to a restaurant I do not like to leave smelling like smoke. It is the same going to a garbage dump, and smelling like garbage. I am not a smoker, and I cannot stand having the stench of smoke on my clothes. The smell of smoke is not harmful, but secondhand smoke is

Hamlet A Comparison to Humanity Essay Example For Students

Hamlet A Comparison to Humanity Essay The Elizabethan play The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark is one of William Shakespeares most popular works. One of the possible reasons for this plays popularity is the way Shakespeare uses the character Hamlet to exemplify the complex workings of the human mind. The approach taken by Shakespeare in Hamlet has generated countless different interpretations of meaning, but it is through Hamlets struggle to confront his internal dilemma, deciding when to revenge his fathers death, that the reader becomes aware of one of the more common interpretations in Hamlet; the idea that Shakespeare is attempting to comment on the influence that ones state of mind can have on the decisions they make in life. As the play unfolds, Shakespeare uses the encounters that Hamlet must face to demonstrate the effect that ones perspective can have on the way the mind works. In his book Some Shakespeare Themes ; An Approach to Hamlet, L. C. Knight takes notice of Shakespeares use of these encounters to journey into the workings of the human mind when he writes: What we have in Hamlet.is the exploration and implicit criticism of a particular state of mind or consciousness.In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses a series of encounters to reveal the complex state of the human mind, made up of reason, emotion, and attitude towards the self, to allow the reader to make a judgment or form an opinion about fundamental aspects of human life. (192) Shakespeare sets the stage for Hamlets internal dilemma in Act 1, Scene 5 of Hamlet when the ghost of Hamlets father appears and calls upon Hamlet to revenge his foul and most unnatural murder (1.5. 24). It is from this point forward that Hamlet must struggle with the dilemma of whether or not to kill Claudius, his uncle, and if so when to actually do it. As the play progresses, Hamlet does not seek his revenge when the opportunity presents itself, and it is the reasoning that Hamlet uses to justify his delay that becomes paramount to the readers understanding of the effect that Hamlets mental perspective has on his situation. In order to fully understand how Hamlets perspective plays an important role in this play, the reader must attempt to answer the fundamental question: Why does Hamlet procrastinate in taking revenge on Claudius? Although the answer to this question is at best somewhat complicated, Mark W. Scott attempts to offer some possible explanations for Hamlets delay in his book, Shakespeare for Students: Critics who find the cause of Hamlets delay in his internal meditations typically view the prince as a man of great moral integrity who is forced to commit an act which goes against his deepest principles. On numerous occasions, the prince tries to make sense of his moral dilemma through personal meditations, which Shakespeare presents as soliloquies. Another perspective of Hamlets internal struggle suggests that the prince has become so disenchanted with life since his fathers death that he has neither the desire nor the will to exact revenge. (74) Mr. Scott points out morality and disenchantment, both of which belong solely to an individuals own conscious, as two potential causes of Hamlets procrastination, and therefore he offers support to the idea that Shakespeare is placing important emphasis on the role of individual perspective in this play. The importance that Mr. Scotts comment places on Hamlets use of personal meditations to make sense of his moral dilemma (74), also helps to support L.C. Knights contention that Shakespeare is attempting to use these dilemmas to illustrate the inner workings of the human mind. In Hamlet, Shakespeare gives the reader an opportunity to evaluate the way the title character handles a very complicated dilemma and the problems that are generated because of it. These problems that face Hamlet are perhaps best viewed as overstatements of the very types of problems that all people must face as they live their lives each day. The magnitude of these everyday problems are almost always a matter of individual perspective. Each person will perceive a given situation based on his own state of mind. The one, perhaps universal, dilemma that faces all of mankind is the problem of identity. Minds Are Open Only When Hearts Are Open Argumentative Essay In Hamlet, Shakespeare gives the reader an opportunity to evaluate the way the title character handles a very complicated dilemma and the problems that are generated because of it.These problems that face Hamlet are perhaps best viewed as overstatements of the very types of problems that all people must face as they live their lives each day.The magnitude of these everyday problems are almost always a matter of individual perspective.Each person will perceive a given situation based on his own state of mind.The one, perhaps universal, dilemma that faces all of mankind is the problem ofidentity.As Victor L. Cahn writes, Hamlets primary dilemma is that of every human being: given this time .