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The Allegory of the Cave Paperback – July 7, 2017

by Plato (Author), Benjamin Jowett (Translator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 874 ratings
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The Allegory of the Cave, or Plato's Cave, was presented by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work Republic (514a–520a) to compare "the effect of education (παιδεία) and the lack of it on our nature". It is written as a dialogue between Plato's brother Glaucon and his mentor Socrates, narrated by the latter. The allegory is presented after the analogy of the sun (508b–509c) and the analogy of the divided line (509d–511e). All three are characterized in relation to dialectic at the end of Books VII and VIII (531d–534e). Plato has Socrates describe a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall from objects passing in front of a fire behind them, and give names to these shadows. The shadows are the prisoners' reality. Socrates explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall are not reality at all, for he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the manufactured reality that is the shadows seen by the prisoners. The inmates of this place do not even desire to leave their prison; for they know no better life. The prisoners manage to break their bonds one day, and discover that their reality was not what they thought it was. They discovered the sun, which Plato uses as an analogy for the fire that man cannot see behind. Like the fire that cast light on the walls of the cave, the human condition is forever bound to the impressions that are received through the senses. Even if these interpretations (or, in Kantian terminology, intuitions) are an absurd misrepresentation of reality, we cannot somehow break free from the bonds of our human condition - we cannot free ourselves from phenomenal state just as the prisoners could not free themselves from their chains. If, however, we were to miraculously escape our bondage, we would find a world that we could not understand - the sun is incomprehensible for someone who has never seen it. In other words, we would encounter another "realm", a place incomprehensible because, theoretically, it is the source of a higher reality than the one we have always known; it is the realm of pure Form, pure fact. Socrates remarks that this allegory can be paired with previous writings, namely the analogy of the sun and the analogy of the divided line.
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  1. Print length
    25 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    July 7, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.07 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1521777810
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1521777817
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (July 7, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 25 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1521777810
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1521777817
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.08 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.07 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 874 ratings

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Plato

Plato

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Plato (428-348 BCE) was a philosopher and mathematician in ancient Greece. A student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle, his Academy was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely regarded as the father of modern philosophy.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
874 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cory Andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars Very important book
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
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Everybody should read this book, especially the self-conscious
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laura ra
5.0 out of 5 stars This is 9 pages of a conversation
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
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This is part of a conversation but it’s an amazing philosophical conversation.
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Keith Spruill
5.0 out of 5 stars You haven’t read anything until you’ve read Allegory.
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
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Stop reading what ever you’re reading and read this now. It will change your perception of your world and humanity.
6 people found this helpful
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Shauni
5.0 out of 5 stars Short, but profound
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2018
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Amazing book. The types print is fairly large my guess is at least 14-16 point font. Very short book at only a few pages but non the less an amazing world view turning book.
4 people found this helpful
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SK
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, bad binding
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2011
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This is a great, easy to read copy of The Allegory of the Cave, however, some of the pages are not even attached to the binding. They come right out, but I only found this out after having this book in my heavy backpack, so there's a possibility that it may have just been the other books' weight that messed this book up, but I wouldnt count on it. Plus, even if it was, the book came apart after 1 day of this treatment. It was only about 2 pages though, so it's no big deal but something to note nonetheless. Great philosophical read, great for a report, especially if read in conjunction with Jose Saramago's The Cave, as I am doing.
2 people found this helpful
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Dr. Simona L. Brickers
5.0 out of 5 stars As good as it!
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2022
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This classic is a reminder that human beings still have a long way to go.
4 people found this helpful
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Tinker Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Customer Service
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2021
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This book may not be exactly what I'm hoping for so I'm returning it. I'm rating for the seller who provides an outstanding service. I would buy again from this highly recommended seller.
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Jose Alberto Serrano
3.0 out of 5 stars Careful!!!
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023
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Many words used in this book are rarely used in common English, so be careful with interpretation, you'll need to use Google for help.
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Top reviews from other countries

John
5.0 out of 5 stars Metaphor for the world we live in. Matrix?
Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2022
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“Matrix”
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CiRONNIE
5.0 out of 5 stars Gets you thinking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2020
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Excellent - brain food
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beau loots
5.0 out of 5 stars Illusion and Reality
Reviewed in Australia on October 22, 2022
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I first read this book in the 1950’s and it switched on a light! The life we lead in terms of culture, religion, politics, and government is not reality: it is a Chimera of reality and because of this, the future is uncertain. To see beyond the chimera one must constantly, over a lifetime, learn broadly, and deeply to be able to decrypt the Chimera and find reality.
One must embrace constant learning!
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Bruno Correa Gauto
4.0 out of 5 stars Good product.
Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2023
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Good product.
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Karla R.
3.0 out of 5 stars It’s a booklet
Reviewed in Mexico on May 26, 2023
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This is more like a brochure / booklet, but it’s what I was looking for. Just “fine”.
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