There are many people who prefer to live in their illusions rather knowing the truth. Making reference about the text Excerpt from the Republic [science fiction and philosophy pp.24]. The philosopher Plato explains how far “the nature is enlightened or unenlightened” and how human beings react in terms of knowledge.
Plato illustrates how humans live in total ignorance by representing the ignorance as a cave. There are prisoners inside the cave and according to the book, the prisoners have their legs and necks chained so they cannot move and see what is behind them. In terms of illustration, that means that people feel comfortable living in their illusion because the truth can be painful or to prevent conflict with their parents. For instance, when I was in high school, my math teacher used to smoke all the time. One day the whole class what the consequences would be if he kept smoking, and the funniest part was that my professor knew that the students were right but he did not pay attention. He knows that smoking causes lung cancer but he feels comfortable smoking, that is a perfect example of what Plato is telling in the text.
Plato gives an example of what would happen if “one of the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck around and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains” [excerpt from the republic pp25]. If we analyze in depth this words from Plato, he was trying to say that once the prisoner get out of the cave [ignorance] and look towards the light [meaning that the prisoner knows the truth] will suffer sharp pains because the truth might be hard for someone who use to live in darkness or ignorant.
On the other hand I prefer to know the truth and avoid living in completely ignorance or darkness. There are too many things to learn in this world, therefore, it is important to explore new things. Knowledge is power, in my opinion there is no reason for me to reject the truth. I am the kind of person who likes to investigate how things work out. For example, when I was a kid I did not wanted to read and do my homeworks even though I knew I was wrong but I felt better thinking that nothing is going to happen if I did not do my homework assignment. Then I realized that I should do my homework because it was for my own good. Learning something knew or knowing the truth of something is important. Being ignorant is like being blind. I cannot imaging myself in the cave, I have to learn something new every day.
The allegory of the cave is an interesting example of illusion v. reality, let us take the issue of evolution for example, evolution has been a controversial issue between scientists and religious leaders. Evolutionists state that the universe came to be because an explosion better know as “the big bang”. On the other hand, religious leaders even the scriptures show how not only the universe, but the earth was created. It is clear that even though there are evidence of a creator, scientists feel comfortable living with their illusion. In my opinion I believe that the earth and the entire universe was a work of a creator.
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