Posted: April 4th, 2015

Consider the parable of the cave. Socrates describes men and women who are “like us” whose legs and necks are chained, so they see only shadows on the wall. But someone comes and liberates a prisoner, forcing him/her to turn around, to see the puppets and the fire that cast the shadows, and finally to climb out of the cave, to see the sun.

Consider the parable of the cave.  Socrates describes men and women who are “like us” whose legs and necks are chained, so they see only shadows on the wall.  But someone comes and liberates a prisoner, forcing him/her to turn around, to see the puppets and the fire that cast the shadows, and finally to climb out of the cave, to see the sun.

The theme of your essay:  who is the Liberator?    Socrates doesn’t tell us.  He wants us to guess.  The question could have many answers.

You will divide your essay in three sections.  Please use the section titles in italics.

Part I.  Why are the prisoners like us?

In what sense do we, in our everyday life, see only “shadows” of real visible things (the puppets in the fire-light)?  What factors prevent from seeing more?  In answering, feel free to discuss other dialogues of Plato, as well as your own experience, books, films, etc.

Part II.  In what sense is the Liberator a philosopher like Socrates?

There are many things in Socrates’ teaching that might free someone lost in shadows.  Gather them together in your mind, drawing from the Phaedo, the Apology, and the Symposium, and explain as clearly as you can.

Part III.  What other type of figure might further the cause of liberation?

Here, perhaps – if you like — you have a chance to discuss the limitations of Socrates.  Also to describe the Liberator as you see him/her.  For this part of your paper, many paths suggest themselves. Choose one – only one –and explore it

Some possibilities:

The Liberator is a religious figure, the center of religion practice.

The Liberator resembles someone in literature (or drama, or film).

The Liberator might resemble someone you know.

The Liberator is someone you can best imagine for yourself, on your own – your own construction.

The Liberator is the same as the person performing the puppet show in the cave.

The Liberator is the Cartesian Meditator.  (For this you’ll need to wait for lectures on Descartes.