Lacking a college education my simplistic take on the cave Leaving out the need for going to the bathroom & interacting with others. It's easy to understand knowledge was limited to what could be seen in front of them. The conclusion was probably the basis for don't shoot the messenger. Relating that to present day the closest IMO would be the bulk of mainstream media presenting shadows & constant negativity. The light being shown would be issues affecting all Americans & the world in general. Issues like trade imbalance, illegal entry to America, border security, manufacturing jobs vs service jobs. Trump like the prisoner that returned is forcing the population to think about those issues. The rest of the world adjusting to a change in what was always before their eyes. Similar to the conclusion of The Cave. MSM is in effect shooting Trump the messenger.
There is more to that than meets the “eye” for indeed, each choice based on what is right Is not always right. As with the cave and thinking of more than a singular person exiting it, each person will view items in the light and dark with different ideas of what it is and / or how to cope with it. Each different perspective from each “freed” person draws conclusions based on individual reason. A single principle object of appreciation can be viewed and described differently by each person subjected to the viewing. How then to choose right from wrong? Note: Prior to the appearance of the Commandments brought forth by Moses (from God), right was what the “peasant” who hired the menial servant (ref. The cave) said it was. In effect, Erasmus was correct by the forecasting of the one eyed man becoming king of the blind. But what of it all? Once someone does go back to the cave and reveal the truth he found in the light, is it indeed the truth or his truth? Or a semblance of truth? Is that not what is meant by choices? Do we not form an opinion of what we have heard and seen and the action, if any, that must accompany that opinion? If a free people are to remain free, all opinions and choices do count and are as Holy Scripture to the pastor for indeed, it is a sacred thing and to be respected. It’s personal and one of the many things that makes a person strong in his or her individuality and yet, in communion with others. The rub is, when someone’s wrong choices reign over those in harmony, how do we take that person to task and still respect his right to his own insights? We we not be the ones still in the cave if one such as that were to be abolished or as in the analogy, killed?
Please do not allow a “lack of a college education” ever stop you from perusing the fine thought process known as philosophy. In my way of thinking, you not only did quite well but have the makings of a good philosopher yourself. And as a by the bye, some of our very best philosophers were indeed very simplistic, to the point and direct as was your reply.
One of my guests last Sunday is studying to be psychologist. I mentioned "The Allegory of the Cave" during the conversation. After they left, I Binged it to refresh my memory. I read that the movie, "The Matrix", is loosely based on that story. I have watched part of "The Matrix" but I found it boring and hard to understand. I know that the protagonist had the choice to take the red pill and see reality, the smog, all the ugliness. He took the pill. After that, all I remember is a lot of jumping atop buildings and fighting. Not my kind of movie. So, have any of you watched it to the end? Did he manage to free humanity from the matrix? Or are we all still living in the matrix? By the way, when I click on the link in the original post, it says, "Access denied."
Saw the Matrix and the sequels and yes, there are still people who live in the Matrix but outside the theater we just call ‘em “woke” as opposed to awake.