From the very beginnings of human civilization the human animal has asked itself whether it is being tricked- whether reality is not what they think it is. Through the allegory of the cave in Plato's Republic and through the analysis of the tragic storyline in Aristotle's Poetics both texts try to show that ignorance is easier to accept and live by but enlightenment is an attainable goal that will bring the happiest, most honorable, and most fulfilling life.
The Allegory of the Cave
In Plato’s Book VII the allegory of the cave is used to show how ordinary unenlightened human beings lead lives similar to prisoners in a cave forced to watch shadows that are deemed to be reality. The prisoners are so deceived that they themselves do not even realize that the are imprisoned- quite the opposite, they are ready to kill anyone who wants to show them that life can be led in a different way.
The prisoners would naturally begin their own hierarchies in the cave, ‘in the habit of conferring honors among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together...’. Here Plato tries to emphasize the psychological resistance to truth and how people can be relatively happy in their ignorace instead of facing something as frightening as reality.
Aristotle's Poetics
Aristotle, similar to Plato, explains that the highest dramatic art form, which he believes to be tragedy, is when a character in a text is able to recognize reality for what it is. The meaning of a tragedy should basically allow for the main character to achieve self recognition and to this end he uses Oedipus Rex as an example- a man who kills his own father to marry his own mother.
Even though Oedipus ends up recognizing such a horrible reality he is able to face to what is actually the truth and achieve self recognition similar to the prisoner who leaves the cave. In his quest to discover who he really is Oedipus only comes closer and closer to a catastrophe which allows for his own enlightenment- the bitter sweet moment to which both Plato and Aristotle attest to.
Conclusion
In Book VII of Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Poetics both philosophers try to highlight the human condition of ignorance and how it is the duty of every adult human being in the planet to reach the palace of wisdom and enlightenment.
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