Analysis Of Aristotle's Allegory Of The Cave
Phil 1050 3/15/16 Caralyn Dawson Allegory of the Cave The main subject of Aristotle’s ‘Allegory of the Cave’ are a group of prisoners who have been kept chained their entire lives in a cave with one opening to the outside. By way of this opening, in addition to a strategically placed wall and fire, they are able to see the shadows of individuals who pass by carrying different objects. The fire causes the shadows of the objects being carried to be projected onto the back wall of the cave, but the placement of the wall ensures that the individuals actually carrying the objects
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However, it is not just this specific church that could be considered symbolic of the Cave. In fact, most, if not all, mainstream religions in America today could fit these requirements, especially in the southern portion of the country. To elaborate, most mainstream religions, much like the FLDS church, have a number of statements that are taught to its followers as the ‘truth.’ These may vary slightly according to the religion in question, but the main tenets of most American monotheistic religions are as follows: 1. There is one all-knowing, all-seeing Creator, 2. This Creator has the power to punish or reward humanity both in life and in death, 3. This Creator has certain rules that must be followed in order to receive these rewards, and 4. Deviation from the path dictated by these rules result in adverse consequences. It is common for these tenets to be taught as the only truth; refusing to follow these, as well as the rules the Creator or any human followers speaking on its behalf can result in not only presumed postmortem punishment by this Creator itself, but punishment on Earth by human followers. Due to the fact that merely questioning the established teachings is seen as deviation and insubordination worthy of punishment, a child brought up in a specific monotheistic religion in America and not permitted to question this religion (openly OR internally, as the Creator is all-knowing) for fear of reprisal could be representative of the prisoner. Because the child while underage is largely under parental control, if the aforementioned outside force attempts to discourage the flow of knowledge pertaining to other beliefs, the parent is representative of the binding chains that force the prisoners to look only at the half-truth
However, it is not just this specific church that could be considered symbolic of the Cave. In fact, most, if not all, mainstream religions in America today could fit these requirements, especially in the southern portion of the country. To elaborate, most mainstream religions, much like the FLDS church, have a number of statements that are taught to its followers as the ‘truth.’ These may vary slightly according to the religion in question, but the main tenets of most American monotheistic religions are as follows: 1. There is one all-knowing, all-seeing Creator, 2. This Creator has the power to punish or reward humanity both in life and in death, 3. This Creator has certain rules that must be followed in order to receive these rewards, and 4. Deviation from the path dictated by these rules result in adverse consequences. It is common for these tenets to be taught as the only truth; refusing to follow these, as well as the rules the Creator or any human followers speaking on its behalf can result in not only presumed postmortem punishment by this Creator itself, but punishment on Earth by human followers. Due to the fact that merely questioning the established teachings is seen as deviation and insubordination worthy of punishment, a child brought up in a specific monotheistic religion in America and not permitted to question this religion (openly OR internally, as the Creator is all-knowing) for fear of reprisal could be representative of the prisoner. Because the child while underage is largely under parental control, if the aforementioned outside force attempts to discourage the flow of knowledge pertaining to other beliefs, the parent is representative of the binding chains that force the prisoners to look only at the half-truth