PLATO'S CAVE ALLEGORY

Plato's Cave Allegory

How to live a fulfilled life

A Presentation by Darius Adam, held for the Enlgish in Use Class

Index

1. Introduction

3. How to accomplish a fulfilled life

2. Plato's Cave Allegory

3.1 Plato's and Aristotle's concept of a fulfilled life

2.1 People lving in the cave

2.2 How one breaks out

3.2 Plato's ethics

3.3 Usage for your everyday life

2.3 The People's Reaction

2.4 How to interpret the allegory's elemetns

4. Conclusion

Introduction

How I came in contact with Plato's allegory of the cave

Subtitle

The reason for ethics

2.

Plato's Cave Allegory

2.1 , 2.2 & 2.3

The odd one out experiences life beyond the caveThey go back in the cave telling the others about the world outside The cave's people reject the travelers story The traveler is being killed due to misunderstanding, fear and egoism

People in the cave, the outbreak and reaction

People are shackled and faced towards a wallShadows are being projected against the wall by unknown creatures One odd human breaks out of the cave

2.4 How to interpret the allegory's elements

every aspect of the allegory can be directly connected to our world

How to accomplish a fulfilled life

according to Aristotle and Plato

" One only finds happines by using every given opportunity and skill. "

Jostein Gaarder

3.1 Plato's and Aristotle's concept of a fulfilled life

• One needs to master their own mind and needs to avoid being mastered by them
• It is helpful to get rid of the dependance of visuals, senses and outdated values or systems in society

• This process leads to a state of a free mind
• That state allows the mind to be filled with insight
• balance between excess and surpressing yourself

3.2 Plato's ethics

• WISDOM
• complete knowledge, not in a scientific way
• mental completion accomplished through studies and experience

• JUSTICE
• mathematical justice
• justice of power
• "an eye for an eye"

• COURAGE
• balance between foolhardiness and cowardice

• TEMPEREANCE
• balance of personal life, needs, actions and values

3.3 Usage for your everyday life

How can my life be fulfilled?

Living by Plato's etchics Starting your philosphical journey Getting closer to the "Idea of Good" by constantly questioning your surroundings and habitat Keeping up the study frequently and with effort

Balance is key: happiness is being accomplished not through gluttony nor through hunger Balancing your personal traits and habits will lead to a more satisfying life

Conclusion

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato is a theoratical and critical approach towards society by questioning the mainstream and motivating everyone subjectively to getting into thoughts and wonder regarding their personal and public life.

SOURCES

• Gaarder, Jostein: "Sophie's World", Carl Hanser Verlag Munich, Vienna 1993

• dtv Brockhaus Lexikon Volume 14 Pas-Qua, Brockhaus Lexikon 1989, Deutscher Tachenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Munich

• "DIE ZEIT": Das Lexikon, Published 2005, Zeitverlag Gerd Bucerius GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg

• https.//gutenberg.spiegel.de/buch/politea-44885/1

• https://vernetzt-magazin.de/die-vier-platonischen-kardinaltugenden/