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Laura Gougeon

Power & Imagination


Trimble
October 19, 2015
Inquiry 3: The Allegory of the Cave
In the section of The Allegory of the Cave by Plato that we read, it explains the
philosophical view of Plato and his mentor, Socrates. The entire piece is a dialogue about the
educational system now and how it needs to be.
I found it intriguing the way Plato said here they have been from their childhood, and
have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being
prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. The passage clearly explains how
students are taught by a banking system, where they are taught by teachers to just memorize the
subjects without reading between the lines or critical thinking. As the reading progresses, Plato
describes in depth about how once the people are freed, they will be able to see the light and be
capable to moving freely. This is to explain how once the system changes to one that allows the
student to think for himself, problem posing system, there will be progress on people will grow
intellectually. It is crucial for students/people to learn how to critically think, for it is the only
way one will be able to expand on their knowledge and learn to be independent.
A passage that posed questions for me was when Plato said Better be the poor servant of
a poor master. I believe he said this to explain that if you are a poor servant to a poor master,
they will have something in common by both being poor, so there will be more of a connection
between them.

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