Plato's Views on Human Nature

The famous philosopher, Plato, was originally a student of another famous philosopher, Socrates. Throughout most of Plato's writings, he writes from the viewpoint of Socrates. Many philosophers believe that although Plato was merely recounting Socrates's teachings at first, he later began to expand upon them and create and incorporate his own views into his writings as well. One such example is that of Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

In the Allegory of the Cave, Plato writes of Socrates telling a story about prisoners who were kept underground their whole lives. Their reality consisted only of shadows cast by objects held before a burning fire behind them. However, Plato then asks us to assume that one day one of these prisoners is released and allowed to turn around and view the flames and objects behind him and eventually to even venture up out of the cave and behold the world above ground and the sun. Plato goes on to tell of the prisoner's initial disbelief and his desire to return to the world of shadows he had always known. When the prisoner first witnessed the fire and objects, rather than immediately realizing the truth of the shadows he had always seen and witnessed to be reality, he was blinded by the fire and wished to turn back to the shadows. And when he stepped forth from the cave, he was even more blinded by the light above ground and the sun and again his instinct was to turn from it.

Plato uses this story to illustrate how human nature is for us to believe and accept reality as what we have become accustomed to. However, as the allegory proves, reality is not always what it seems. Plato even goes further to explain how this one prisoner, when he finally accepts the truth of reality, tries to tell the other prisoners and lead them out of the cave. However, his former comrades meet him with resistance, for our human instincts are to believe what we have always known to be true. Therefore, unfortunately, although this first prisoner has come to know real reality, some of the others will not be swayed.

Many modern day philosophers believe that this second point made by Plato was in reference to the execution of his tutor, Socrates. Socrates sought to teach people about philosophy to help them gain wisdom and search for ultimate reality. Yet, he made many enemies in doing so for some people did not want to believe his teachings, ridiculed him, and accused him of corrupting the youth. And because he refused to discontinue his teachings, he was sentenced to death.

Throughout this allegory of Plato's we can surmise his view of human nature. People tend to believe what they see and hear and accept it as reality, but Plato proves that reality is not always what it seems. Furthermore, sometimes when people refuse to accept the truth, they will retaliate with retribution. Therefore, the Allegory of the Cave provides us a look at Plato's view on human nature.