The Political Theories Of Machiavelli, Niccolo Machiavelli...

A variety of political theories have been developed throughout the beginning of history in order to provide organization for society. These theories stem from the different views of human nature, which is what people are fundamentally like. In order for a political theory to function in a certain society, it needs to understand how people think and act. Three prominent political theorists were Aristotle, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes. Aristotle viewed humans as natural â€Å"political animals† that have both rational and irrational sides to them, allowing for a government that provided overall goodness for the people. Machiavelli took a more grim view of human nature that shows humans as being naturally selfish and ambitious, so the government should be about greatness and maintaining power. Hobbes believed that in their natural state, humans are nasty, brutish, and untrustworthy, which forces the government to have to ensure peace and security while allowing people t o get to their desires. Of the three political theories, the theory of Machiavelli is the most convincing as it incorporates the most realist view of human beings and how government should operate. In order to understand a political theory, it is important to understand the theorist’s views of human nature. Aristotle believed that humans were naturally political, or as he called them â€Å"political animals†, which means that humans are inclined towards politics and innately want to participate. He also believedShow MoreRelatedMachiavelli s On Human Nature1531 Words   |  7 PagesMachiavelli on Human Nature Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes were two modern political theorists who presented new ideas about political organization in the 16th and 17th century. While Machiavelli focused his written works on ideas related to effective governance, Hobbes attempts to explain the necessity of establishing a ruler to maintain peace and stability. Although Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes focused on different aspects of political theory, both thinkers addressed the conceptRead MoreThe Different Types Of Government868 Words   |  4 Pagesgovernment in this text are very different. The first of the governments with Niccolo Machiavelli did not believe a divine rule. The second one with Thomas Hobs believed that there was some type of divine rule. The third had Niccolo Machiavelli, he was a Florentine statesman and a political theorist, which is â€Å"someone who engages in a constricting or evaluating political theory and is used to describe and evaluate political events and institutions.† (Dictionary.com) He was not that much of aRead MoreThe Dark Ages1647 Words   |  7 Pagesand almost unthinkable during much of human history. These are signs of society’s general thinking changing drastically towards political, philosophical and societal issues. Three men with three different ideologies can be seen as the founding fathers of ideas that fight society’s collective thinking and bring about change. Those men who dared to challenge medieval political and philosophical orthodoxy immensely impacted later history. There is a reason why the Medieval Ages are often referred to asRead MoreEssay on Impact of the Writers of Antiquity on Modern Times613 Words   |  3 Pagestheir theories. Born of brilliant men like Marx and Machiavelli, to name a few, these theories are preserved in books, illustrated in day-to-day domestic and international affairs, and immortalized in modern theories and documents. They are the predecessors of present theories that have been reinterpreted for a different era and reapplied in a new context. In his most famous work, The Prince, Niccolà ³ Machiavelli discusses the ways in which to not only attain, but also retain, political powerRead MoreThe Influences of Selected Political Writings by Machiavelli and Leviathan by Hobbes1717 Words   |  7 Pageslive up to an ideal will soon discover he has been taught how to destroy himself, not preserve himself. -Niccolo Machiavelli Every person has a chance to leave a mark on this earth, and every person gets to decide how he or she will do that. Two men decided that they wanted to write about life and human actions that they noticed. Machiavelli wrote The Prince in an attempt to gain a political position in the new government that was being established in Italy by the Medici family. Although his bookRead MoreHobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Machiavelli Essay1855 Words   |  8 PagesHobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Machiavelli The thirteenth through the eighteenth century brought profound changes in the political realm of Western civilization. Beginning with the Scientific Revolution and only advancing during the Renaissance, secularization and skepticism lead to changes in not only the intellectual life of Westerners, but also to their politics. At the forefront of the political debate were well-versed men such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. The influencesRead MoreSimilarities Between Machiavelli And Hobbes1205 Words   |  5 Pagespower should a man employ to hold an ideal government? This governmental â€Å"ideal† is what Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince strived to achieve and how Tomas Hobbes’ governmental steps in The Leviathan resulted. During the dramatic changes of the Italian Renaissance, The Prince was Machiavelli’s attempt to restore strong centralized power that Italy currently lacked. Furthermore, in response to the fear and political turmoil stif fing in the English Civil Wars, Hobbs wrote The Leviathan. Their booksRead MoreNiccolo Machiavelli And Thomas Hobbes1472 Words   |  6 PagesNiccolà ² Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes both have compelling views towards liberty or freedom. In relation to politics, the term liberty and freedom is an essential contested concept. Because we have no complete agreement as to what these terms concrete definitions are, we will always have politics. The two thinkers have provided a framework of what these two terms mean which laid out a platform for what the terms mean today. Machiavelli expressed his views through his works, The Discourses and TheRead MoreNiccolo Machiavellis Change In The Scientific Revolution And Secularism Essay1334 Words   |  6 PagesIndustrial Revolution. Political revolutions, triggered by Enlightenment ideas, also occurred in America, France, and Haiti. Supported by a new interest in the Greco-Roman world, as well as the secularism and humanism movements, many b egan questioning the world around them through science and philosophy. Western thought throughout this period placed a major emphasis on the natural rights of the individual, science, and economic liberalism. Machiavelli’s major contributions to political science are hisRead MoreThe Human Nature Of The Prince, Thomas Hobbes And James Madison1447 Words   |  6 Pagesthoughts. The question now is what type of reasoning is natural to us all? This human nature is a topic explored by thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, Niccollà ² Machiavelli in The Prince, Thomas Hobbes and James Madison in The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Human nature is the force that pushes an individual to his or her actions. Political theory, as a result, is shaped around this nature for the sake of survival. One way to get man to his natural instincts is by hypothetically

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder Essay - 967 Words

Bipolar Disorder Illness Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, it is a brain disorder that causes shifts in mood, a person’s energy level, their activity levels, and their ability to carry out the day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be very severe. They can be different from life’s normal ups and downs that everyone goes through time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms may result in damaged relationships, poor job, or school performance, and even as far as suicide. Bipolar disorder can be treated in different form. People with bipolar disorder illness can lead full and very productive lives. Causes Scientists have been studying the possible causes of bipolar disorder illness. But most scientists agree that there is no one single cause to this disorder. Rather that are many factors likely act together that produces the illness or its increased risk. Genetics Unfortunately bipolar disorder tends to run in families. They have done some research that has suggested people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder illness than other people. Children with a parent or a sibling who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder illness are much more likely to develop the illness, compared to children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder illness. However even though most children with a family history of bipolar disorder illness may not develop the illness. There are technological advances that are improving geneticShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder706 Words   |  3 PagesBipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by changes in mood. It can lead to risky behavior, damage relationships and careers, and even suicidal outcomes if it’s not treated. Bipolar disorder is more common in older teenagers and young adults, it can affect children as young as 6. Women experience more periods of depression than men. More remains to be learned about this condition that affects millions of people. Aretaeus of Cappadocia began the process of detailingRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1454 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the greatly investigated neurological disorders is Bipolar Disorder. Regrettably, due to social stigma, funding issues, and a lack of education, many who are dealing with this disorder do not receive adequate treatment. Bipolar disorder, is also known as manic-depressive illness, it is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and the ability to carry out normal daily tasks. Symptoms of the disorder are severe and diverse from the normal ups and downs that everyone goesRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms1486 Words   |  6 Pagespeople may think that having bipolar disorder means that anyone with the disorder are just simply put, â€Å"crazy†, I was one of those people but the meanings of those two things couldn’t possibly be any more different. Bipolar disorder is defined as â€Å"A disorder ass ociated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.†(google.com) â€Å"Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness with recurring episodes of mania and depression†(nami.org). â€Å"The term â€Å"bipolar† — which means â€Å"two poles† signifyingRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1020 Words   |  5 PagesBipolar disorder, formally known as ‘manic depression’, is known for its extreme mood swings; these can last anything from weeks to months and are far more extreme than moods most people would experience. Mood swings include episodes of highs and lows; these are known as mania and depressive episodes. Bipolar is a disorder that affects men and woman equally and affects around 1 in 100 adults. Symptoms usually start during or after adolescents and rarely start after the age of 40 (Royal CollegeRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1648 Words   |  7 PagesBisecting Bipolar Disorde r Introduction and Background Overview 3.9% of adults in the United States are suffering from bipolar disorder as of 2014 according to the National Institute of Mental Health (Jann, 2014). Although rare, it is still a prevalent disease in the realm of mental health and requires special attention from healthcare providers. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition described by repeated manic or depressive episodes. Furthermore, due to the extreme mood swings and emotionalRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder Essay1278 Words   |  6 Pages1 HelenKeller541 Physiology October 26, 2016 Abstract: Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder; also referred to as manic depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V, 2013). Bipolar disorder is a depressive disorder with manic episodes, it is placed between the chapters on schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders in recognition of their place as a bridge between the two diagnostics in terms of symptomology, family historyRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms Essay1384 Words   |  6 PagesBipolar disorder is simply defined as a manic depressive illness, which affects a persons mood and energy. However, the way it affects a person’s mood is dramatic and severe. These are severe moods are called episodes of mania and depression, which means a person who suffers from bipolar disorder might be extremely excited and happy one day, and extremely depressed the next day. In some cases, depressive or manic episodes last weeks, and in some cases these episodes last days. People who suffer fromRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms1493 Words   |  6 PagesRorman Ms. Chrisman English 10 30 November 2016 Bipolar Disorder If people don’t get enough sleep and miss a meeting, they are just upset, but for people with bipolar disorder, it can trigger another episode to their week. Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that can cause shifts in people s mood that are more unusual. Signs and symptoms can be different depending on if the person has manic or depressive episodes. A person with the disorder can also give their family and friends struggles, asideRead MoreBipolar Disorder : Symptoms And Symptoms1390 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch of bipolar disorder will not only describe in detail the symptoms and affects of this mood disorder, but it will also include the advantages, disadvantages of the treatment and medications, and the major role that medications take. Bipolar disorder involves periods of elevated or irritable mood (mania), alternating with episodes of depression (Moore and Jefferson, 2004). The â€Å"mood swings† of mania and depression are very sudden and can happen at anytime any place. Bipolar disorder is categorizedRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1700 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Bipolar disorders, also known as manic depression, are mental disorders characterized by shifting moods between depression and mania (Bressert, 2016). Those with a bipolar disorder, have extreme emotional states called mood periods. In the United States, more than 10 million people have bipolar disorder (Kennedy, 2015). It is lifelong, but can be treated. Although it can easily be treated, once patients choose to stop taking their medication their symptoms worsen. Around 15 percent

How does Golding introduce Piggy, Jack and Ralph free essay sample

How does Golding introduce Piggy, Jack and Ralph? Golding introduces Piggy as an intelligent and more matured boy: Nobody dont know were here We may stay here till we die Piggy, unlike Ralph, is more aware of the situation and is focusing on the importance of no adults on the island. We will write a custom essay sample on How does Golding introduce Piggy, Jack and Ralph? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Piggy is shown looking on the logical, mature side of the situation whereas Ralph, much like most of the other boys they meet later, are excited about living with no rules and no adults. As Piggy therefore seems more mature than Ralph, who ends up being the leader, he would be the best choice for a group leader. Piggy is also introduced as intelligent by his glasses: looked up through his thick spectacles Piggys glasses are used to symbolise his wisdom and being able to see clarity, presenting him as a smart boy. Piggys glasses are important as without them the boys could not have made a fire, therefore implying Piggy is an important character on the island. The glasses also used to symbolise civilisation within the group, foreshadowing the tragic ending after Jack breaks the glasses, representing the break in civilisation. Piggys glasses also link to what class hes presented with. Golding introduces Piggy as a working class character: The frame had made a deep, pink V on the bridge Piggys glasses are clearly shown as being too big for him, suggesting that he has not bought glass frames that fit his face correctly, whereas it would be likely Ralph would have. This may be because the only importance for Piggys glasses was that they would help him see rather than also supply comfort. This suggests Piggy is working class and a noticeably lower class character than Ralph. Golding introduces Jack as a dominant leader : Choir! Stand still! The use of two imperative verbs instantly shows Jacks as a strong boss, conveying his power and leadership over his choir, also mentioning his position as head boy. As Jack is already presented as a leader figure to his choir, he is already regarded as a leader to the rest of the group due to his older status and bossy, intimidating nature. Golding introduces Jack as arrogant and aggressive : I ought to be chief The use of a declarative suggests Jacks arrogant nature as he has decided he should be the chief of the group and is suggesting he thinks he is the best and most powerful leader on the island. He is later shown as aggressive to other characters who seem to be of no importance: We dont want you said Jack, flatly The use of the word flatly suggests Jacks lack of sympathy towards Piggy therefore showing aggression as he is bullying others to show his authority and power. This is because Jack wants to show he is a leader. Golding introduces Ralph as a kind, sensible leader to the group: All right. Who wants Jack as chief? Ralph is shown complying with the voting for leader as he wants to be fair and equal to Jack, showing his civil, kind nature. He is also described afterwards as being eager to offer Jack something, to show him that Ralph does not want to fight against Jack but work with him as well as chosing him to go exploring with him and Simon. He is also presented as a sensible character as he is shown building huts and finding ways to maximise their chance of rescue. Golding introduces Ralph as an innocent, middle class character: The boy with fair hair. As Ralph is described with fair hair it implies his hair is blonde which can be associated as innocent, which foreshadows Ralphs involvement with the tragedies during the novel. Ralph is presented as a middle class character shown through his attitude to his clothes: to put on a grey shirt once more was strangely pleasing Ralph is showing his pride in wearing his clothes, which happen to be his school uniform. This shows how Ralph must come from a middle class background as he enjoys his school life and education is proud to be showing off his uniform

The mind and allegory of the cave

Introduction The mind can best be shaped to understand the world through ideas (forms) rather than material experiences and sensations. The highest type of reality is the one that is based on knowledge of forms as illustrated through the allegory of the cave.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The mind and allegory of the cave specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The nature of the mind and its relationship to other means of understanding the world The allegory of the cave proves that man is able to perform his day to day functions without necessarily comprehending his true reality. Within the cave, there are prisoners who have been chained throughout their lives. The prisoners cannot turn their heads and the only thing they can see is a wall. Although there are people who pass behind the prisoners through a roadway, it is never really possible to know that those are the real objects that reflect their shadows a gainst the prisoner’s wall. Even the echo that permeates from the real people is translated as sound from the shadows. These individuals have therefore interpreted what they see or their material sensation for reality. They have not stopped to think that there could be a deeper meaning behind the shadows. In fact, even the things they identify or name are all related to what they perceive passing before them as shadows and not the actual objects. Language therefore reflects their perception of reality through the physical. Plato argues that this never really denotes the real meaning. To get to understand what is actually going around us, one needs to go beyond the physical and grasp these things with the mind because that is the only pathway to conceptualizing reality (Brians, 52). The prisoner who was set free and shown the actual sources of the shadows actually realized that he had been mistaken all along. His reliance on his senses alone was not sufficient to grasp the w orld around him. This prisoner had to be set free from his old perceptions in order to truly get to know what was going on around him. The same thing can be said about the process of acquisition of concepts. Physical objects often give mistaken views of what things really are. In order for one to truly grasp how the world works, it is essential for that individual to abandon the old concepts formed through materials and experiences with tangibles. Similarly, in order for the mind to truly conceptualize then it must challenge the status quo. The people in the cave are content with their circumstances. The dim fire light and their state of darkness is what they had come to know. They do not realize that there is something wrong with their existence. Because they have never been exposed to another kind of existence, they are content with the little they possess. Here, the mind has not been engaged fully and this has resulted in a less fulfilling life (Plato Jewett, 516).Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When one of the prisoners had the privilege of being exposed to the light and after he saw what the sun was all about, he soon found out that their previous life has been a misconception. This individual is therefore more enlightened than his counterparts who are still held in the cave. He now finds the way of life of the people in the cave to be pitiable and therefore decides that his duty is to get his people out of their state of not knowing. However, most of them do not receive his ideas openly. Some actually despise him and believe that there is no truth other than the one tied to their existence. Plato was trying to illustrate that the mind has the capability of finding real knowledge but this will always come into conflict with knowledge obtained through material sensations as was the case with the people in the cave. One must be ready to confro nt these old ideas in order to facilitate true intellectualism and enlightenment within one’s society. Indeed the process of enlightening others is always an uphill task because this entails dealing with a lot of resistance. Plato was well aware of Socrates life as a philosopher. He even discussed it with his counterpart during an analysis of the allegory. Socrates had engaged his mind to move beyond the senses in pursuit of truth. When he found this truth, he knew that it was now his duty to free other people from the chains of material perceptions. His society rejected the truth that he was providing them and eventually sentenced him to death. It can be deduced from Socrates’ life that trying to inform others about the truth may rarely be successful. Every single individual must actively engage his mind and seek for it. It is only after one has fully experienced this transformation that one can really testify to knowing and believing the truth. Here, one can see th at the nature of the mind is such that it must interact with different paradigms so as to establish which one represents reality and which one does not. Telling people about truth often entails the use of language. Plato often believed that language is comparable to the shadows that the prisoners saw on their wall. Individuals who are deeply committed to a certain view often get to that level by experiencing that view using their mind. Material perceptions are quite strong and in order to supersede them, it is essential to really experience reality. The mind works not by hearing the truth but by interacting and gaining an experience with it (Brians, 94).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The mind and allegory of the cave specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the allegory of the cave, the games that the prisoners were playing were used to symbolize the trivialities and cares of the world. Plato believed tha t the mind often undergoes a transformation once one encounters the light or enlightenment. Consequently, one finds it almost impossible to be put back in the earth and to gauge issues using the same standards that other men who have not seen the light utilize. In other words, once the mind undergoes a transformation through knowledge of forms, it cannot again go back to the old method of using sensations in order to make sense of the world. These standards often become unacceptable and even pathetic to the person who has been transformed by knowledge. These people are still in mental bondage and their way of life it too far from reality (Warmington, 78). Plato firmly believed in Socrates ideas yet those very ideas are eventually what led to so many people being angry at him. Socrates often held that the invisible world is where the truth lies and that those who choose to see with their eyes are blind to the truth. He believed that using the eyes – or the senses for that mat ter – contributed to the obscurity of the world because it was impossible to really know the world through the use of one’s eyes. On the other hand, Socrates argued that the intelligible is really found in the invisible world. In fact, this philosopher was so bold as to say that the sun lit world of the senses could not be taken as real and good. Those people who believed it to be so were actually putting themselves in a den of ignorance and evil. It is only the few who possess the courage to really get out of this den that get enlightened. When using the allegory of the cave, Plato was deriving his teachings from these affirmations made by Socrates and this eventually adds gravity to the assertion that the mind can truly gain an understanding of its surrounding only if it surpasses the visible and reaches for the invisible. Indeed this allegory brings to the fore the issue of spirit consciousness. In order to really know oneself, one must think of the cave as the da ily responsibilities and daily life and the life outside the cave as a life referring to the never ending spirit. In this regard, for one to really understand knowledge, one must get to the spirit. However, this is not possible unless one can become a real master of one’s mind. One must think of the world and the light in it as an illusion and one must find comfort or rely on the transcendental consciousness. The latter refers to an eternal realm that is synonymous to real good. This allows the mind to be at ease and hence allows it to get to the real meaning of life (Plato Jowett, 520).Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The allegory also provides an in-depth explanation of what life is about through one’s influences and exposure. In fact, many stereotypes or religions can sometimes be interpreted as the cave in the allegory. A person who has grown up knowing about a certain religion to the point of becoming a fundamentalist will often close his mind to other alternatives. This is someone who believes that the only truth that exists out there is the truth that he or she was taught in his or her religion. To this end, the religion becomes like a cave which blocks him from really engaging with the truth. Even though other people might approach such a person and try to convince him about the truth, it is likely that such a person will not accept that truth because he has closed his or her mind to it. In order for one to be exposed to reality, it is necessary for one to be open to the possibility of there being another realm. Fundamentalist religions often act as caves that close followerâ€⠄¢s minds to knowledge and reality. It is often essential for such individuals to open their minds so that they can undergo a paradigm shift. The allegory of the cave also illustrates how each and every member of society has a certain kind of cave in their mind. This often emanates from impulsive thought processes that get formulated into the mind by one’s sensations. However, once the mind, which is synonymous to the cave, starts allowing reality to permeate it then the cave will start being dismantled. It is here where the mind will start to build up real knowledge and therefore look beyond certain reality so that it can be fully understood. The point at which one can get to real self actualization will occur when one breaks down this barrier of the cave (Warmington, 201). Certain underlying truths can only be accessed once the mind tears down these structures and replaces it with truth structures. The cave is usually created by those experiences that people go through and it often closes people off certain possibilities. The truth is very expansive and cannot be contained within the cave mentality. Plato’s allegory on the mind and its relation to material sensations also provides a way of understanding what real leadership is. When an individual had the privilege of seeing the light, then that person goes back to his former life, that person would genuinely want to bring the other people in his society to par with his reasoning. This kind of leader would take up the responsibility of teaching not because of a quest for power, fame, glory or any other superficial reason; such a person would want to govern so that he or she could make his society a better place. The true leader is therefore one who does it out of an obligation rather than selfish needs. In other words, this person will be able to forsake all other material based desires in order to meet the needs of his society. In essence this reflects maturity of the mind. One cannot be in a position where one can change one’s society without forsaking the things that are related to the external. It is also essential to take note that real change in one’s life only takes place when one has taken charge of one’s reality. Humankind often allows the external to design and create it’s life; this is what makes up what people become. Such individuals will often go through life without thinking through it. They will take each day as it comes and not even bother taking a conscious decision to take charge of their existence. Through the mind, mankind has the option to take over his existence and this must be a conscious step taken by all who dare (Watt, 152). One would wonder why philosophers even bother with the other members of society since it has been clearly proven that they will meet resistance stemming from sense related inhibitions. Plato believes that it is a true leader’s responsibility to take on this task because that is the only way that society will get better or it is the only way that the truth can really get to other people. As an enlightened person, one must be a representation of goodness because the rest of society may not yet be able to comprehend these kinds of concepts. Progress in human development can only be realized by looking at reality in a different way and this is facilitated through the sacrifices of enlightened leaders. It is also interesting to note how man can resign himself to a life of reality if he does not limit his mind to his perceptions. One’s conception of truth and reality can affect one’s capacity to access education and be changed by it. It can also affect one’s spirituality and one’s ability to reach real spiritual consciousness. It also permeates public life and the way politics plays out in people’s lives. The mistaken belief in limited perspectives of the sensations eventually permeates in everyday life and therefore makes one’ s existence flawed. It all starts with the mind since everything else is as a result of a decision made by one individual. Human beings have an innate fear of new ideas. This normally occurs because such ideas will expose the limitations in one’s former thinking. In fact, such fears are so intense that instead of questioning the new ideas, humans would rather take the short way out and kill the bearer of the message. Great reasoning naturally offends its listeners and thinking is not a thing that is taken in stride. The prisoners in the cave were offended by the assertions of the prisoner who had seen the light because ignorance is blissful. This illustrates that when one is bound in the world of sensations, one can ever really embrace knowledge. Such a person will try to question it or may try to resort to other drastic measures. This means that without truly engaging the mind, one can never really be virtuous. One would always be willing to employ radical methods in order to resist ideas. This allegory is also important in illustrating the difficulties that the mind goes through during transitions from light to darkness and darkness to light. The prisoner who had been removed from the cave soon came to find out that it was going to be very difficult for him to adjust from the darkness to the light. He almost felt like he was being blinded by it. On the other hand, after studying the sun, the seasons and reality, he also found it very difficult to adjust back to the darkness in the cave. Putting knowledge into his mind is what assisted in these transitions. He was able to get past these difficulties through knowledge. Therefore one can assert that real adjustment occurs when the mind is continually fed with ideas (Watt, 191). Conclusion The mind must be truly engaged in order to get to the truth. This may involve loosening one out of the chains that emanate from false beliefs. These beliefs are brought on by one’s experiences with the material sensations. Consequently, for one to get to the truth, one must supersede this superficial existence. However, the truth is often not told or explained through language, it must be experienced by the mind by specific individuals. Enlightenment also creates good leaders because their minds have already overcome the ignorance and darkness of the visible world. References Brians, P. The allegory of the Cave. NY: Brickhouse, 1998 Jocobus, Lee. Plato the allegory of the cave Watt, Stephen. Introduction: the theory of forms. London: Wardsworth, 1997 Plato, D. Jowett, B. Plato’s the republic. NY: Modern library, 1941 Warmington, Rouse. Great dialogues of Plato. NY: Signet classics, 1999 This research paper on The mind and allegory of the cave was written and submitted by user Hazel Galloway to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.