What is Allegory in simple terms?

Discussing Plato's understanding of rationalism and human knowing and how his Allegory of the Cave depicts th?

• I feel stupid because I don't even know where to start and I am not understanding any of what I read to complete this assignment. If someone can break down the assignment in laymans terms for me maybe I'll be able to move forward Plato's Allegory i) Write a 750-1,000 word essay discussing Plato's understanding of rationalism and human knowing and how his Allegory of the Cave depicts this understanding and parallels Christian thought. Finally, compare/contrast Aristotle's worldview with what you know about Plato's worldview based on his understanding of rationalism and human knowing and his allegory. ii) The assignment will be graded as follows: (1) Does the essay clearly address the topic? (2) Has the author expressed the ideas clearly? (3) Does the essay contain good reasoning?

• Answer:

  Ok... well its been awhile since I actually read the Cave but I think I remember enough to help you. So rationalism, reason, rationality, etc all mean that you are thinking. Those terms mean you are restricted to your own mind and they are reflective. That means no other senses are involved, does that make sense? So Plato was a rationalist philosopher. Aristotle, on the other hand, was an empiricist. Empiricism has to do with the senses. He was interested in the type of science where he could go out and observe things. So for him, knowledge is achieved only through things he can perceive with senses. Plato is looking for what he thinks is a higher knowledge (and he can only get this from reason) With me so far? In the cave, no one inside has reason. They are looking at nothing but shadows on the wall (or something like) which are cast from a fire. They are chained, and hence they are powerless. (This is how Plato views humans who dont have or dont use reason). SO... when that one guy escapes the cave and gets outside, he now has reason. He understands that everything he thought he knew in the cave is actually a lie. He sees the sun and the REAL world. Only through this discovery of reason is he able to know the truth. So as Christians, I guess God can reveal a truth to us. We need more than reason to receive it- we also need an understanding of his greatness and sacrifice (through faith). But I guess you could think of non-Christians as inside the cave, but once we get out, we can appreciate God's greatness. Last thing. When you get out of the cave, Plato wants you to share your reason with everyone else inside...like a philosopher. In the example of Christianity, this would be something like witnessing. :)