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Elijah Chavez
Professor Maya Alapin
English 220-023
2 October 2015
The Path to Enlightenment
The philosophical book, The Republic, is one of the most influential and greatest works
by Plato that was approximately written in 380BC. Some of the major concepts Plato addressed
in the book, The Republic, were to describe and question the meaning, nature, and forms of truth,
justice, leadership, and government. In, The Republic, Book VII (514a- 521d) Plato presents and
describes a famous metaphor known as the, Allegory of the Cave. The purpose of Platos,
Allegory of the Cave, was to interpret, compare, and illustrate the effects of education on human
nature, reality, and consciousness.
Plato begins by describing a group of prisoners deep inside a cave who were chained foot
and neck since birth, Do you think such prisoners would ever see anything of themselves or
each other except their shadows thrown by the fire on the facing wall of the cave?(The
Republic, 175) In other words, these prisoners are forced to stare directly towards the cave wall
unable to look left, right, or behind them since childhood. Behind these prisoners lies a great fire
which projects and portrays intrigued shadows and reflections on the cave wall to the prisoners.
Unaware of the real world, to the prisoners, these shadows, echoes, and reflections are naturally
their ultimate truth and reality of the universe. However, once a prisoner is set free from their
bondage and experiences the world outside the cave for the very first time the prisoner has a

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revelation of what is true and quickly realizes that their previous perceptions of reality was
completely false and only an illusion of the real world.
The philosopher loves the sight and seeking of unchangeable truth. The philosopher is in
harmony of the real truth and enlightenment. Philosophers must not allow spiritual oppression or
social corruption to interfere with their life and definition of truth. In The Republic, Book VI
(509d-513e), Plato believes, introduces, and describes a vertical divided line between the
physical world and intelligible world of pure goodness and thought. In The Republic, Book VI
Plato states, This, then, you must understand that I meant by the offspring of the good which the
good begot to stand in a proportion with itself. As the good is in the intelligible region to reason
and the objects of reason, so is this in the visible world to vision and the objects of vision. (The
Republic, 508ab) The physical world is the visible realms of constant changing images,
perceptions, and fantasies. The spiritual world of pure goodness and thought is the intellectual
realms of constant real truth, forms, and clarity. The true reality and world of knowledge is above
the divided line. The perceivable and physical world is below the divided line. In Platos,
Analogy of the Divided Line, the upper half is true knowledge (mind) and the lower half is
opinions (body). Math and deductive reasoning is used as the gateway from the physical world to
the spiritual world. To Plato, Mathematical reasoning is one of the closest things to knowledge in
this world.
Plato believes there are four levels to approach and obtain true knowledge, intellect, and
spiritual enlightenment. Platos divided line separates and categorizes four different levels of
knowledge. Each realm has a different method and each method yields a different degree of
truth. The four levels of knowledge comprise of imagination, belief, thinking, and intelligence.
Within the visible realm, there is two lower levels of knowledge. The first, lowest, and simplest

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level of knowledge is imagination. Imagining is the content of sense perception. Imagining is
perceptions, appearances, and reflections in the physical world. In the Allegory of the Cave, its
seeing only the shadows on the cave wall. Belief is the next step to knowledge within the visible
realm. Belief is the second level of knowledge concerning the visible realm. Belief is knowing
that imagining comes from changing images and objects. Beliefs recognize how the images
change in different circumstances. Belief is the source of rational reasoning, pragmatic decision
making, and is concerned with a realistic perspective. In the Allegory of the Cave, its seeing the
physical objects in the cave projecting the shadows. In the visible realm imaginations and
perceptions are two different kinds of experiences that focus on senses. The visible realm deals
in physics. The spiritual realm deals in metaphysics.
Within the spiritual intelligible realm, there is two higher levels of knowledge to achieve
the highest levels of true reality and pure thought. The third level of knowledge is thinking.
Thinking abstracts away from particular perceptions, patterns, and objects. Thinking involves
rationale, reason, and empathy. Critical Thinking enables us to gather, analyze, assess, evaluate,
explain, and restructure concepts and evidence. Critical Thinking challenges assumptions and
considers consequences. Thinking leads us to intelligence. In the Allegory of the Cave the third
level of knowledge is seeing images of Forms outside the Cave. The highest level of knowledge
is Intelligence. Intelligence is the capacity to comprehend the highest and truest forms of reality
and pure thought. Intelligence recognizes maximum human potential of a person. Intelligence is
the source of immense curiosity, personal growth, adaptability, happiness, and creativity. In the
Allegory of the Cave, to experience pure thought, goodness, and true reality the prisoners must
deliberately break free from their bondage to escape the cave.

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The Allegory of the Cave represents the experience of someone who starts at the bottom
of the divided line and reaches the top of the divided line. In Platos theory, the cave represents
people who are blinded and trapped in a false reality who base truth and knowledge on empirical
evidence. The cave could also represent a corrupt society filled with illusions, confusions, and
misunderstandings. Prisoners represents everyday people and members of society who are
slaves, unaware, and ignorant to the real truth. The shadows symbolize our thoughts, opinions,
and imaginations. The cave wall signifies the visible world. The great fire represents the sun by
giving light, sight, and displaying the physical realm. The world outside the cave is the true
intelligible reality and a freed prisoner represents the philosopher who understands the truest
forms of reality and knowledge. The sun represents the good and the ultimate one in
metaphysics. Escaping the cave is a spiritual and physical journey of enlightenment. Its a
transformation process to move up in the divided line. Every stage requires time and patience
and as we progress more truth is revealed.
Education is something we need to turn the whole soul towards using our own power.
We are all human, yet every single individual in this universe is different, special, unique, and
one of a kind. We all think differently, act differently, and see differently from each other.
Though we can share similar characteristics and aspects, its impossible for two people to
be exactly the same. Thus, every individual has their own unique natural personality traits,
attributes, temperaments, interests, skills, strengths, weaknesses, dreams, philosophies, gifts, and
talents. Furthermore, every individual has a strong unique life journey, family background,
different life experiences, and different environmental factors that greatly contribute to shape our
personality. This means, every single individual has a unique perspective and interpretation of
their life. Essentially, in a way this defines who we are. This is why its extremely important to

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believe in ourselves and treasure what makes us different in order to grow and become the best
version of ourselves. Only then, would we be able to experience our greatest and truest
potentials, abilities, and to live up to our dreams reflecting who we truly are and our inner
essence. Its when individuals engage, progress, and devote their lives to what makes them
happy that creates and develops a passion and desire for true learning and knowledge. A greater
understanding of human personality can clarify and explain reasons behind human instincts,
motivations, and personality developments.
According to Plato, the ability to know is always present within any individual willing to
focus on the whole truth and that, this power is in the soul of each and that the instrument with
which each learns. (The Republic, 518c) Within our human nature is a striving instinct. In The
Republic, Book VI Plato states, a real lover of learning naturally strives for what is? He does not
linger over each of the many things that are believed to be, but keeps on going, without losing or
lessening his passion, until he grasps what the nature of each thing itself is with the element in
his soul that is fitted to grasp a thing of that sort because of its kinship with it. (The Republic,
490a-b) The goal of education is to turn the whole soul towards the right desires. We must
escape from the cave to obtain the highest goal of education, which is the knowledge of Good.
Just like in Platos Allegory of the Cave, we must break free from our own physical and mental
bondages, in order to experience true wisdom and enlightenment. We must open our mind and
initiate our own learning in a conscious effort to achieve education and to understand a deeper
knowledge of truth. Though we all have the ability, power, and curiosity to learn, there must be a
true dedication, drive, and willingness to learn in order to achieve and expand our education. If
we dont initiate our own learning, we are forever trapped inside the cave, for the knowledge of
truth shall set you free. If there was no commitment in peoples lives then the chances of certain

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things being achieved would virtually be gone. This is why its essential that people should
obligate themselves to the things they feel are important and worth committing to. Having
commitments demonstrates someones fortitude by their endurance to withstand difficult
situations by not giving in.
Spiritual Enlightenment is free. Enlightenment means to draw that whats already in out
of you. Education should inspire the love of learning. The love of learning is driven by special
talents, visions, and goals. True learning involves hearing, listening, and understanding. We are
all advance beings beyond measure. We must force our brains to think outside of the box. The
aim of education is to fill humanity with knowledge and awaken our intelligence. Actual
Education must adhere to the needs and desires of children and society. True education values
absolute freedom of expression, choice, and simply being. True education involves character
building, moral training, physical training, and literary training. Spiritual Enlightenment brings
unconditional love and happiness for the soul. The fundamental truth of enlightenment is
accepting and embracing universal truth. We are all interconnected and ultimately one. Our
desire, intrinsic faith, willingness, and obedience is manifested and directed by our thoughts.
With the right state of mind and determination, almost anything is possible. All it takes is
ambition, dedication, and most importantly courage to know that you can without any fear. The
only thing stopping you is yourself and once you make the first step it becomes easier every day.

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Works Cited
"The Allegory of the Cave, The Divided Line, The Myth of the Sun." The Meaning of Life. 12
Oct. 2014. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://reasonandmeaning.com/2014/10/12/the-allegory-of-thecave-the-divided-line-the-myth-of-the-sun/>.
"The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato's Allegory in Clay." YouTube. Bullheadent, 18 Apr. 2008.
Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69F7GhASOdM>.
Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand. Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. 1927.
Print.
"Plato - The Allegory of the Cave - (The Matrix) Animated." YouTube. Son of Man, 02 May
2009. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQfRdl3GTw4>.
Plato. "The Republic Book VI (509d-513e)." The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by
Plato. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.7.vi.html>.
Plato. "The Republic Book VII (514a- 521d)." The Internet Classics Archive | The Republic by
Plato. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.8.vii.html>.
"Platos "Republic": "The Allegory of the Cave and the Analogy of the Divided Line".-." La
Audacia De Aquiles. Aquileana, 03 Apr. 2014. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.
<https://aquileana.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/platos-republic-the-allegory-of-the-cave-and-theanalogy-of-the-divided-line/>.