Republic, Bk. VII

The Allegory of the Cave

Perhaps the most famous allegory in Republic is the Allegory of the Cave at the beginning of Bk. VI:

"Imagine human beings living an underground, cavelike dwelling, with an entrance a long way up, which is both open to the light and as wide as the cave itself. They've been there since childhood, fixed in the same place, with their necks and legs fettered, able to see only in front of them, because their bonds prevent them from turning their heads around. Light is provided by a fir burning far above and behind them. Also behind them, but on higher ground, there is a path stretching between them and the fire. Imagine that along this path a low wall has been built, like the screen in front of puppeteers above which they show their puppets.... also imagine that there are people along the wall, carrying all kinds of artifacts that project above it - statues of people and animals, made out of stone, wood, and every material. And, as you'd expect, some of the carriers are talking, some are silent." (p. 436-7)

The point of the allegory is to compare the experience of those who are not philosophers and who have never had exposure to the Forms (i.e. who have never left the Cave), with the experience of the philosophers who have had exposure to the Forms (i.e. who have left the Cave).

Those in the Cave only see shadows (or copies) of the artifacts carried behind them, thrown by the fire. The artifacts are themselves copies of things that exist outside of the Cave (animals, etc.) Since those in the Cave are unable to turn around, they take mere shadows of copies of originals to be what truly exists. Hence they are twice removed from the truth. This is the condition of those who have not been exposed to the Forms as the philosophers have.

(1) Dog outside cave : (2) artifact of dog carried in front of fire : (3) shadow of artifact of dog projected on wall seen by chained cave-dwellers

(1) Form : (2) Idea : (3) Particular

The Education of the Philosopher-Kings

Those who are destined to become Philosopher-Kings must go through a rigorous education, after the regimen of gymnastics and physical training and music (etc.) that all Guardians go through, in order to become philosophers who will rule the state. This education consists in:

Age 20-30 yrs: 10 years training in mathematics

Age 30-5 yrs: 5 years training in dialectic (or philosophy)

Age 35-50 yrs: 15 years training in 'practical polis management', or political science.

Age 50 yrs + : Exposure to the Forms.

Only those who have knowledge of the Forms will rule the city. Such ruling does take them away from doing philosophy (which is what they wish to do, all of the time), but it is necessary for the city to be happy overall that the city is just, and in order for the city to be just each class must 'do its own work'. This means that no one class is as happy as they could possibly be -- in order that the city be as happy as it could possibly be.