Comparing Plato's Allegory Of The Cave And The Bible

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance” –George Bernard Shaw. The bodies politic in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and the Bible, the Commonwealth and Israelites, both have shallow beliefs and believe what they know to be true. The Platonic Prisoner, from Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, and Moses, from the Book of Exodus in the Bible, both attempt to influence others with their newfound knowledge and wisdom because they feel the obligation to do so.They end up with different overall responses from their body politic as their relationships undergo change.

The Platonic Prisoner and Moses believe it is their responsibility to help those that relate to them and to influence those around them. For example, the Platonic

Prisoner “now went back in his mind to where he was living before, and to what his brother slaves took to be wisdom there, wouldn’t he be happy at the change and pity them?” (Plato 124). The Platonic Prisoner is sympathetic towards the Commonwealth because they don’t get to experience true wisdom. He understands that the cave is limiting their knowledge and wisdom. Consequently, he feels as if he must lead them effectively. Similarly, Moses emphasizes, “the people come to me to seek God’s will” (Exodus 18:15). God is borrowing the voice of Moses to communicate with the Israelites. The source of Moses’s obligation comes from God because God is the one that wants him to lead the Israelites.
The protagonists try to share wisdom and knowledge that their bodies politic are not willing to accept.

For example, in the Bible, “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage” (Exodus 6:9). The Israelites do not understand that Moses is only trying to benefit them. They refuse to consent to his word even though it is the word of God. Another example, in Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, Socrates states, “and If there were to be a competition then with the prisoners who had never moved out and he had to do his best in judging the shadows before his eyes got used to the dark - which needs more than a minute - wouldn’t he be laughed at?” (Plato 125), as the reaction of the Commonwealth. The men laugh at the Platonic Prisoner because they don’t want to accept this new

knowledge.
As relationships develop, Moses becomes a fatherly figure for the Israelites.

When Moses finds the Israelites worshipping a golden calf after he descends from Mount Sinai, he burns it to the ground. He, then follows by begging God, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written” (Exodus 32:31-32). Moses is begging for God’s forgiveness on behalf of the Israelites, even though he has no part in their sin. This quote reveals that Moses is willing to take responsibility for the actions that the Israelites commit and doesn’t mind if he has to take the blame. Moses understands that the Israelites don’t know any better. Everyday, Moses sits through disputes brought upon him by the Israelites (Exodus 18:16). In doing so, he is similar to a father who solves silly arguments between two children. The Israelites don’t know how to solve their own disputes, so they rely on Moses. As for the Platonic Prisoner, he has a far different relationship with the Commonwealth. When Socrates says, “And if they were able to get their hands on the man who attempted to take their chains off and guide them up, wouldn’t they put him to death?” (Plato 125). The Commonwealth wants to diminish their fear of the unknown because they feel threatened. They are only comfortable with what they currently know. They do not want to make any changes to their life. They want to

get rid of him.
In conclusion, the protagonists feel the need to share their newfound wisdom and knowledge with their respective body politic. However, they deny the protagonists because they are insecure, afraid of the unknown and are too ignorant to understand. For Moses, he is able to watch over the Israelites and become a parental figure for them. Meanwhile, for the Platonic Prisoner, the Commonwealth attempts to kill him and rid of his unpalatable truth. In the beginning, the Israelites and Commonwealth are rejecting and denying the truth. By the end of both stories, the Israelites are accepting towards Moses and his sayings from God. As for the Commonwealth, they are still unwilling to listen and want to continue their trail of denial.