The allegory of the cave vividly illustrates the concept of idealism in the form it was taught at the Platonic Academy. In this dialogue, Socrates explains to Plato’s brother, Glaucon, that we are all like prisoners chained at the bottom of a cave who still don’t realize that there is, in fact, more to it than the shadows they see on the wall (Plato, 2016). The main idea of this allegory is to distinguish between people who experience their sensual experience and call it knowledge and those who understand actual knowledge by seeing the truth. The allegory contains several movements: being imprisoned in the shadows, being freed from chains, leaving the cave into the light of the sun, and returning from the light of the sun into the cave.
The exploitation of the environment exposes us to many diseases caused by chemical, physical, biological, and psychological agents. Moreover, there is growing evidence that global climate change is already affecting human health (Davidson, 2021). Plato’s allegory of the cave reflects well our current relationship with the environment and ways to find a better way to live in the world and live with it. Over the past few years, we have finally taken an important first step towards escaping from Plato’s cave. Now we understand that we are in a cave: we know that we are bound by a world created by ourselves.
Indeed, today’s situation with climate change and dangerous chemical and biological pollutants may resemble a Cave. It is difficult to find a way out when, paradoxically, our quality of life seems to require the creation of even more pollution and greenhouse gases, even when these by-products simultaneously threaten our quality of life or the continuation of life in general (Davidson, 2021). Deborah Davidson’s article on climate change shows that we are trapped in a cave and suggests specific actions to free ourselves from chains to get out of this cave.
References
Davidson, D. (2021). Climate Change. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web.
Plato, B. (2016). The allegory of the cave. P & L Publication. Climate Change and the Allegory of the Cave