In book Seven of The Republic, Plato describes a cavern in which a group of prisoners have been shackled with their heads fixed in place, all facing a wall upon which they observe flickering shadows, with no knowledge of the real outside world. The Allegory of the Cave can be interpreted,
simply, as a metaphorical representation of a theory of knowledge, in which only the true philosopher- not the rest of us- can perceive reality(i.e., what is truly good and just). However, this allegory also has serious political
consequences and may be read as a critique of democracy.
What is Plato’s main complaint of democracy? Is this complaint still relevant today? What would Plato think about American democracy?
Please include a works cited page.