In the Allegory of the Cave, Socrates suggests that, without philosophical education, we are all like the prisoners in the cave. What are your thoughts on this? How is philosophy supposed to be liberating? Do you think Socrates is right to be so pessimistic about life without philosophy?
There is a well known saying, "ignorance is bliss", meaning not knowing something is beneficial to the person instead of knowing the truth, which can be harsh.
For instance, there could be a family consisting of a husband, wife and two children. The husband is in the army and was called to war and has not been back in five years. The mother is aware that her husband has died in battle and suffers because of this. She tells her children that he will come back one day, sparing them the suffering of losing their father.
For some people, "ignorance is bliss" makes sense and sometimes it is all they know.
A less tragic example is the average person such as you and me watching the news, watching the political debates and looking at advertisements. According to Plato's Allegory of the Cave, we are ignorant and the images are only the shadows of the real issues. Most people accept information given to them and focus on their lives. However, without conducting our own research or asking questions, we become followers of society and this stops us from thinking critically, not using our intelligence to the fullest extent.
I agree philosophy is liberating, having knowledge on the world allows us to make decisions to improve the communities.
A relevant example is the new President Donald Trump, his election sparked an interest in politics through-out the United States. Many Republicans in large states that have not voted in years due to a Democratic rule, responded to this election. This also awakened people in other states such as New York, understanding the lingering racism and sexism present in the American society today. This includes the Muslim ban, reversing abortion rights and funding for PlannedParenthood, and deporting illegal immigrants back to their countries. People who have been part of protests did more than watch the news or debates, they organized protests and researched possible changes that can affect their lives negatively.
There are also people who are only watching what is happening unfold and moving on with their daily routines. Some people prefer to focus on themselves and their well-being than step outside their comfort to change a society. Plato would call these people prisoners because they choose not to expose themselves to an unpredictable understanding of the truth. Plato's view on these people are very pessimistic, and I see these people as mostly "moderate" who do not want to stand out and risk getting injured, or simply do not see any reason not to stay the same.
Briefly connecting to this, I read a play called Antigone by Sophocles and Antigone went against the law of the king to bury her brother, while the rest of the citizens followed the king's rule to avoid the risk of punishment. Antigone ended up sacrificing herself for her beliefs, being sentenced to death.
Another great example is Martin Luther King Jr. who fought against the separation of races and died for his belief. Many people would stay out of it, not die for their beliefs to continue to live for another day.
The same for philosophical enlightenment, it could liberate someone, causing positive change in their life such as the liberated prisoner in the cave, or be seen as something not worth leaving the comforts of one's life, or the cave.
Naomi, this is a thoughtful post. I think Plato does see philosophy as a form of liberation from society (the cave). But he always thinks in terms of individuals, not groups. It's interesting that the political examples you mention here are groups (rather than individuals) trying to liberate themselves
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