The Allegory of the Cave and the Fear of Change

The Way of Change Humans are all different but yet everyone is still the same in a sense. Plato, one of the worlds smartest and sharpest philosophers to ever live wrote an interesting book about this named “The Allegory of the Cave”, it's a very interesting book an covers many aspects of life. Everyone can be afraid of trying new things, or live in cycle of laziness. But until people realize within themselves that are living a life of these unsatisfactory problems they will never be able to over come them. This is pertaining to more people than a person might think, most people actually can be associated with these harmful habits. Therefore humans are resistant to change because of their complacency, ignorance, and their fear of change. First of all, humans battle to change their life of complacency. People often times to get used to a certain thing or way, they even know it's not the best way to go about things. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun . Why does this happen? Mostly because after people get accustomed to a certain way they will usually gain a sense of security within their lives. Plato had an interesting quote about this stating “Here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before
Blevins 2 them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads” (316).People often times live their lives in chains and never even know they have the keys. This is meaning the chain locked people can only see one way, the way they've always known and no other direction. Sadly too many unfortunate people are cemented in this closed trap of complacency because of the fear that change can bring. Obviously, this is why humans shield to change the life they may only know of complacency. Secondly, humanity struggles to change because they have a sense of ignorance. People put themselves in danger when they are ignorant to life and the realities it brings to their families, their finances, and themselves. As controlling and demanding as our U.S. Government is getting these days everyone should stay up to date on what is going around so people will not be taken for granted. Plato gave a quote that is very relevant to this topic “When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities” (317). This is a common case, after people ignore the problems of life so long when they go face the everyday realities they can be blinded. This world is constantly changing every day, every hour, every minute, and every second we are progressing in a new route and if you are ignorant you will fall behind on the what's becoming survival of the fittest. This can relate to our everyday tasks from driving on public highways, to eating a hamburger from a fast food restaurant. People driving on the public highways that are in an ignorance like state will often times pay the price with a hefty traffic ticket, the same goes for eating a meal for a fast food joint. But the biggest problem of being ignorant is in the hobby of bass fishing. With bass fishing tournaments paying a large slump prizes of $500,000 and more. People can never, never, never be ignorant in the game of fishing. It is one of the most detailed sports there has ever been. Fish can't talk and won't come jumping out of the water to show where they are at, fisherman have to be paying attention every cast and second that goes by to be able to tell what the fish are doing such as are they relating to wood cover? If so dense or sparse wood? Are they relating to a hard bottom to spawn or are have they not yet spawned or even already spawned? Are they relating to banks where the river channel
Blevins 3 swings in? Also the ignorance state of mind is exactly opposite of what is needed when picking out the baits because details are the major key such as, are they biting when the bait gets to the bottom? If so why are the fish there? Or are the fish suspended feed on shad or bluegills? If so which one so the fisherman can adjust his bait according to what the fish is feeding on for bait size, shape, color, and movement. The typical person would think that details doesn't matter in the sport of fishing but the ignorant person who fishes a tournament will get run over by the person who payed attention and focused all day long so they could figure out what the fish was doing and able to run a pattern through the day. Clearly, this is why the human race repulses to change because the live in an ignorance like state. Last of all, the human race will refuse to change because of the fear of change. Why would a simple thing such as change be so detrimental? Because peoples imagination can dream up a never ending supply of terrible things that could happen. But just think about it. We all have the ability to imagine the absolute worst thing that could happen so that means everyone also has the skill to use the energy to imagine the absolute best thing that could happen. It’s a matter of focus. Why do people waste so much time imagining the worst when there’s just as much of a chance of the best outcome happening? Because that's human nature and people fear the thoughts of change and making s mistake.
In Plato’s work he wrote “When dragged upwards, they would be dazzled by the excess of light” (317). That's meaning that once the prisoners broke out of what the was used to they was overwhelmed and fascinated by how change was nothing to fear. Thus, humans will hinder the fear of change. In conclusion, this is why humans are shielded to change, because of their complacency, their ignorance, and their fear of change. Everyone can be afraid of trying new things, or live in cycle of laziness. But until people realize within themselves that are living a life of these unsatisfactory problems they will never be able to over come them. Hopefully people will realize that life is too short to live in the cycle of a dark and gray life so many people live and step outside of the boundaries and
Blevins 4 live life to the fullest.

Plato. "The Simile of the Cave." Republic. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974. 240-48. Print.