Essay Example on the Allegory of the Cave: Exploring Human Needs in Modern Society

Naturally, Man has quite a number of needs that require to be met for his well-being and his survival. One aspect of the needs of man is the emotional aspect. There is a need for man to feel happy, satisfied, wanted, and loved. In modern society, cults and sects have sprung up, taking advantage of these innate human needs and manipulating quite a number of people to be under their control. The aim of this article is to analyze the Allegory of the Cave and discuss issues in the contemporary society that are comparable to this intellectual/psychological confinement and also to discuss how the pursuit of philosophy is a way to free oneself from this contemporary Cave.

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The prisoners in the case of cults would be the individuals who are recruited and indoctrinated into the beliefs and practice systems of the specific cult. The way of life of these individuals is eventually in the control of the cult leaders. The cult controls almost every, if not all, aspects of their daily lives (Hadot, 45). The individuals are directed on what to wear, eat, who to interact with, what to watch and listen to on the media, and what religious practices to undertake. In a sense, like the prisoners in the cave, they are chained to face a set direction and have no room to make changes or any adjustments to their positions.

The cult leaders, on the other hand, are like the characters behind the prisoners in the cave. Cult leaders manipulate, control, and choose what is fed to the subjects. They are in charge of the information being supplied and the frequency to which the members are exposed to the information (Plato, 66). With time, they build a belief system for the members portraying it as the truth. This is done through books that are meant to contain specific religious belief systems which the members are most times required to master and follow to the latter. There are also ceremonies that the cult members have to take part in regularly, and this participation serves as an indication of their commitment and trust in the cult.

In most cases, the cult members are isolated from the rest of the society, figuratively put in a cave. Just like the cave in the allegory, that has an opening to the outer world, Cult members also have some access to the regular normal life in the society, and some cults even allow their members to live in their proper homes and traditional society setups. Nevertheless, the members of the factions, despite being allowed to live in the society, tend to exhibit a particular set of behavior indicating the influence that the cult has on the mind of the individual (Plato, 66). Such a person is usually secluded, withdrawn, and out of touch with the ordinary happenings in society. They would generally not take part in any activity unless directed and approved by the cult leaders.

In the cults, some individuals quickly pick up and adopt the practices of the cult. These are, to some extent, considered as role models for the other members, just like in the cave where other prisoners may look up to the individual who masters the shadowy figures, their sequence, and frequency. One difference, though, is that, in modern-day cults, unlike in the cave, the compliant members might receive some sort of reward. This could be in the form of a title bestowed on them or being given a measure of control in the organization.

The norm in most cults today is that eventually, there are a number of defectors after some time. The cause of defection is usually enlightenment. The particular members chose to deviate from the day to day practices of the cult and take some time to verify for themselves the authenticity of the teachings and the practices they are subjected to. In a way, such an individual is like the prisoner allowed to turn their head and are able to see the real objects whose shadows are being cast on the cave wall. The individual is then able to see the manipulation and the deception of the cult and its leaders as to what the members are subjected to.

Eventually, if they make it out of the cult, they are now welcomed to a new reality, Like the sun that blinds the prisoner from the cave, such an individual faces a number of challenges adapting to the new way of life. They would most likely first identify with practices that closely resemble the previous cult's practices and would slowly adjust to the life outside the cult. After a period of time and extensive study, the individual may come to the realization of what really matters and that the cult is not the ultimate truth and controller of life. With study, there comes self-actualization and the realization that we are all different. Thus there is a need to adapt what works for a particular individual. Common beliefs should not be imposed on groups of people. Rather every individual needs to be allowed the freedom to examine the practices of certain belief groups, extensively study the books that are said to contain the codes and guidance of religious groups, then come to a conclusion of what they chose to follow, practice, and believe (Hadot, 45). The individual, after the extensive study, can adapt the practices not from one but from all the different groups, choosing what works best for them. By doing so, the person is able to fill that innate need for emotional satisfaction without being a prisoner of any sort to any person or system.

After attaining this freedom, one might be willing to enlighten the others still imprisoned in the cult. This would not be easy as the other members are fixated to what they believe is the truth, and the free person would be considered an enemy. In society today, we see free individuals using blogs, media interviews, and books to create awareness of the falsehood in the cults with the hope of freeing more members.

Works Cited

Hadot, P. Philosophy as a Way of Life. Retrieved 13 October 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/4205722/philosophy_as_a_way_of_life_by_hadot

Plato, The Allegory of the Cave from The Republic, Book VII by Plato (~380 BC), translated by G.M.A. Grube (1974), revised by C.D.C. Reeve (1992). Retrieved from: https://yale.learningu.org/download/ca778ca3-7e93-4fa6-a03f-471e6f15028f/H2664_Allegory%20of%20the%20Cave%20.pdf