PLATO'S ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
- According to Socrates, the Allegory of the Cave represents confinement and imprisonment, and the restriction of freedom.
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
- The prisoners, darkness, chains, the fire behind the prisoners, the cave itself, and the shadows are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory.
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
- The allegory suggests that the process of education is a process which is never questioned. Individuals believe what it is that they hear and never question what they are told, suggesting that people don't take advantage of their opportunities to learn. 
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
- The shackles suggests that there is a restraint from knowledge and reality. The cave suggests that it is what confines the prisoners and what keeps them from viewing reality with their very own eyes.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
- In my own life, fear shackles my mind. I have a difficult time voicing my thoughts and opinions. "I don't want to sound dumb," is the statement that truly keeps me from expressing myself.
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
- The freed prisoner is enlightened and understands reality and the outside world. The caved prisoners, on the other hand, lack understanding and knowledge regarding everything that is outside of the cave.
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
- If you're in the cave you won't understand anything other than what you already know from being in that cave. Whereas, if you're from the outside world you already understand the reality of life and the cave will only be a restraint in knowledge.
There are two types of people in the world; those who always agree with you, and those who question you.
8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners’ get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
- Prisoners' become free by leaving the cave. It suggests that knowledge is out there, you just have to be willing to learn. If you wish to become enlightened, you must enlighten yourself.
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- Yes, I agree that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Just because you are unable to see something, doesn't mean that it doesn't exists. Also, the way one views something isn't always real.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?

- If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, everything that is seen will be believed to be real. Nobody will question anything, but only believe what they see to be reality.