In Book VII of The Republic, Plato paints a dark scene for readers. Imagine prisoners shackled in a cave, their heads chained in such a way they can’t look out into the world itself. They can only see manipulated shadows on walls, and that’s about all. Known as the “allegory of the cave,” this passage lets Plato offer commentary about the nature of reality and human understanding. In an episode of Philosophy Bites, Simon Blackburn (Cambridge University) talks with Nigel Warburton and David Edmonds about what Plato really wants to say here. And, above, some clever artists provide an award-winning animation of the cave scene using nothing other than clay. Big thanks to Eren at FilmAnnex for sending this one our way.
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There’s a better quality version of that same video (and a bit of an analysis of the allegory) here: http://berto-meister.blogspot.com/2008/07/platos-allegory-of-cave.html
Thanks for this – as a long-time reader of Plato. As a method of explaining concepts the clay animations are very effective. Maybe someone with a lot of time on their hands could do some more?
But what is reall..For the priosneer released his reality has changed conciderabely. But for the ones still chained, the cave is reality. This is Platos point I believe. Could this scratch the surface of awakenings, to discovery? Or does it emply one of the human conditions, that change, however good and breathtakeing, is looked on by fear and unacceptance.
Very well done!
The background music, incidentally, is a Rajasthani folk rendition of the Bollywood musical number “Kajara re” :-).
Awesome video…like a prisoner in the cave, it’s like being released to go outside and explore!