On page 7, the narrator makes the first of several references to a famous work by the renowned philosopher, Plato, namely, his “Allegory of the Cave.”
Are you familiar with Plato’s allegory? If not, check out the TED Ed Youtube video above.
Or click here to learn more.
The narrator asserts (in agreement with Plato) that the allegory shows that humans have a stubborn tendency to resist seeing “what’s lurking right behind us” (7).
What kind of things do you think people stubbornly avoid looking at? And why do they avoid them?
I am familiar with the Cave allegory, though I don't really like the ideals Plato had behind it. The idea that only people born with the ability to face the truth can comprehend it completely contradicts any effort to educate people on reality. Plato and the narrator are right about people ignoring things for the sake of their own mind though. I think most things that are ignored are those that can upset people or force them to change their lives; I have known many people in relationships that aren't good for them, but continue to stay in it because they don't want to "rock the boat". On the other side, there are people who insist the boat is not being rocked and it's just the waves, which are natural and a part of sailing, so they refuse to tie anything down or even look into the water. I am referencing global warming. I think it's easier for people to stay quiet in almost every situation, but that the right things can create the need for action or words.
ReplyDeleteI was unfamiliar with Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” until now but I enjoyed learning about it. I believe that that everyone is stuck in the cave in one way or another. They are ignoring things, some without realizing it, that would make them uncomfortable should they be acknowledged. These things can range from relationship issues to personal sins, but everyone has something in their life that they have yet to acknowledge and begin to fix.
ReplyDeletePeople evolved a sense for both investigation and avoidance of unnecessary danger, so often which one we are either socialized into or born oriented towards determine whether or not we are comfortable seeking out and analyzing the problems within us.
ReplyDeleteI actually covered the Allegory of the Cave in my English Composition 2 class! We were using it as the main premise while we talked about things in real life that people may avoid over the internet, as we all make our own little spaces, or, our own caves.
ReplyDeleteI do think people stubbornly avoid harsh reality, I know I do. It's easier to avoid looking at what awful things may be happening in the world and focus on our own reality.
I am familiar with this allegory (I used to teach in the History & Systems of Psychology course!) - I think we stubbornly avoid looking at ourselves from the perspective of someone else. I think we often review our own behaviors but from the perspective of being the star of our own movie - sometimes I find it can be very difficult to view the world as if I am just a supporting character in someone else's movie. It is a very beneficial exercise - it helps you give other people the benefit of the doubt and realize that they are probably doing the best they can with what they have. It honestly is how I approach most of my advising and teaching - if I think of myself as the 2 minute character in a movie that helps facilitate the 'hero" and their transition to the next scene it makes those interactions have more context. Do I want to be the character who helps the hero achieve their success or do I want to be the character who is a roadblock to their success. The journey is up to them but I try to be a facilitator rather than a roadblock - what they do with what I give is up to them.
ReplyDeleteI was not familiar with Plato's allegory until just now, but I do, in a way, understand its meaning. Basically, it claims that even when shown the truth, many people try to stick with what they find more familiar. I think the kind of things most people avoid looking at or for are ideas about our reality. Many would rather live in the fantasy they have created than properly do research to see the truth. This goes along with many things such as politics, world problems, and discrimination. People avoid such topics because it is easier to dismiss something if you have never seen or experienced it yourself than try and understand for the sake of others.
ReplyDeleteMany hard truths in life (big or small) are pushed away and avoided for ease of mind. An always-on check engine light is fine to ignore until it starts flashing. Garages and basements stacked with boxes of excess junk that needs to go, but would be too hard to get rid of. Bumps in the night, spiders in the closet, expired food at the back of the fridge, even old clothes that don’t fit anymore; it’s much easier to let little problems pile up than work to fix them.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the book itself, the narrator’s situation lines up very well with the allegory. She watches the way her kids and husband interact without her, but can’t bring herself to intervene (and see that her family is drifting away from her). She would rather watch the interactions she wishes she could have than talk to her husband about the way it makes her feel. People drifting apart is a truth commonly avoided until it’s too late.
I am familiar with Plato’s allegory of the cave, and I love seeing references to it. I believe that people tend to avoid looking at things that challenge the worldviews they built their entire identities upon. For example, a flat Earther may ignore evidence that the Earth is round, or even come up with alternative reasoning for the proof provided. This is done with many things in people's lives, but I feel like individuals also do not believe they themselves could possibly do it because they are so set in their beliefs. This can be for political, religious, or other personal reasons, but I feel like the primary reason is that many people believe admitting they were wrong is an individual shortcoming.
ReplyDeleteI was not familiar with Plato's allegory, but the concept makes sense. I think one of the things people ignore is who the people closest to them actually are. Refusing to believe their parent, kid, or best friend would be capable of some of the things they do. The signs could be right in front of them, and they will just look away. I feel like this may have even happened in the book, the late nights the main character just accepted as work, along with other things that might have been signs were overlooked because of who she thought her husband was. In my opinion, there are those who are scared to see the truth because it challenges their views and how well they actually know someone. Like in Platos cave, the familiarity they have without questioning their judgement is more comfortable than learning the true versions of the people they care about.
ReplyDeletePeople do not look at things that are inconvenient. People don't like things that make them have to change things they already know or believe. An example of this, in my opinion, is flat earthers. There is mountains of evidence that the earth is round, but it would be inconvenient to admit they are wrong. There are many instances of people buckling down on provably false things just because they don't want to give in. There are also many times people don't leave bad situations because it is inconvenient to walk away and heal. Healing is an inconvenient process. Why heal when I'm fine as I am? This idea is very common and I struggle with it a lot. People like staying where they are. People like familiarity even when they are struggling. People avoid looking at inconvenient things because we are creatures of habit. When something becomes normal or routine it becomes much harder to justify leaving that.
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