Plato's Allegory of the Cave

1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?
Socrates relates the Allegory of the Cave to our own perceptions of the world. We have grown up for so long looking at one thing and believing it to be the truth, but in reality it may not be true. Everything we see and how we see it has been dictated to us from birth.
2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?
The fire is like... the dictatorship that has loomed over us all our lives. The shadows are what we see, but they aren't the real thing. The shadows are our psuedo-reality.
3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?
Sometimes I think that we'd be better off getting rid of the learning system we have today and that doesn't entail NEVER learning anything again. But whenever I-- well, this is just the way I see it but whenever I think of how tedious and mind numbing school is I see the image of Mr. Hutton looming over the school and I see Mr. Molina smiling vaguely at everyone's boredom. If we want to get out of this egregious funk of learning the bare minimum to pass these standardized tests then we need to get rid of the people who make us learn in a prison. Seriously, they just built the fence about 3 feet taller this week... 
When we listened to The Cave by Mumford & Sons whilst doing our journals today there was a set of lyrics that said, "Come out of your cave walking on your hands and see the world hanging upside down." Actually, now that I'm looking at the lyrics to the song, I think Marcus actually based that song off of this allegory!
4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?
The cave prisoners' perspective is very narrow and confined.
5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?
The bloody tabloids for a start.
6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?
The freed prisoner is actually seeing the reality of the world, whilst the cave prisoners only understand the shadows.
7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?
The first is by birth and being born into a world where we can't think for ourselves. The second is when we let our perception of what something is get in the way. It becomes even worse when our way of seeing something becomes the reality.
8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?
The prisoner is dragged out meaning that he could be being forced outside or he is too weak to go on his own. If the first is true then it will be difficult to progress, but if the second is true then we need to help other people find intellectual freedom.
9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Yes, just look at people. In high school you see many masks, hardly ever faces. In the adult world it's the same thing. Anyone can fake being happy and content, but in reality they hardly ever are. 
that's the trouble with disguises, no matter how hard you try they are always a reflection of the real person.
10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?
I don't think he is incorrect, but the other two alternative metaphysical assumptions could possibly be that the appearance is the reality , nothing more or.......... erm that........ THERE IS NO REALITY!!! I'M JUST DREAMING YOU ALL UP!!! Thanks Beka :). Laterz.