If I think and therefore I am, does this mean that I see and hence it’s the truth?
Lo and behold! Prisoners in a cave that are bound by chains which restricts them from moving. The prisoners can only look forward towards the wall of the cave, where they see shadows on the wall created by puppeteers above them. Truth to them, is nothing but shadows.
The prisoners play a game of naming the shadows, the fastest at naming the shadows are respected as elites. They become so good at it until they can predict the next shadow which is to be shown on the wall.
Suppose that one day, a prisoner is released from the chains and is compelled to stand up and to walk out towards the exit of the cave. Wouldn’t she be shocked by the sight of the puppets and the light? What if she is asked to name the puppets as how she named it’s shadow?
As she leaves the cave, the brightness of the sunlight overwhelms her, her eyes that were accustomed to the dark environment cannot see. Over time, her eyes starts to adapt to the new environment, she first identifies the shadow of herself and the other objects around her. She then starts to study the sky, realising that the sun is the cause of everything she sees.
Contemplating about her past, she realises that the rewards of winning in the game of naming the shadows on the wall was worthless. She feels pity for the other prisoners who are still trapped in the cave, she would rather suffer than to live like that.
Upon her return to the cave, she realised that her eyes that were once capable of seeing clearly in the dark was affected by the brightness of the sunlight. The prisoners ridiculed her when she failed perform in the game of naming the shadows on the wall.
She tells the prisoners about her enlightenment and the truth about the shadows on the wall. She persuades them to leave the cave.
However, the prisoners concluded that her ability to identify the shadows (which they still believe to be the truth) was ruined by her journey out of the cave.
The prisoners refuse to leave the cave.
Yes, be glad that you’ve left the cave.
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