sentence of the text. The realm is dark, with the exception of a small, well-kept fire. This

burning fire is almost a representation of the burning sun that shines in the outer world. This sun

is interpreted as the “idea of the good.” The fire inside the cave helps guide the prisoners to use

their senses. Without it, they would see nothing, not even their own shadows glowing on the

wall. The physical objects that the prisoner saw were mere illusions. We should never trust

what we see with just our eyes, because illusions will be the result. Then, we would get

comfortable and never second guess it for ourselves.

world. He has not yet been able to, up to this point, see that world, full of both ideas and forms.

idea. Only ideas are considered real. The visible is what one sees, but is really just an opinion.

table. The concept table is the intelligible, and not visible, but the one particular, concrete table

This is known as the intelligible realm. We find these ideas in the rational part of the soul. The

Some topics in this essay:
, ideas forms, visible opinion, outside world, intelligible world,