Plato and Darwin: Natural Selection and the Successful Society

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How many times have we stopped ourselves from doing something that is too hard? Do we realize how important it is for us to take a step and try things? Everyday, things change around us. Whether it is our appearance, body, or mind. The changes that are good improve and help us. However, it is up to us to see change. A change might not be very obvious or it might not be relevant us. Therefore, in order to survive and to succeed some form of change is necessary. In "Natural Selection," Darwin explains the theory on evolution through natural selection that species come in a variety, and modification of species allows offspring to adapt and increase chances of survival. This will teach us how to accept change. In "The Allegory of the Cave," Plato uses the Cave to demonstrate how people often live in shadows and it takes time to adapt to new environment and realize what reality is. By replacing shadows in the cave with humans, we can learn from the shadows that seeing reality is seeing change. When we put the idea of natural selection with shadows to show how we can improve ourselves. By applying natural selection to the shadows of the cave, we humans will be better improved to adapt, survive, and succeed in our world, outside the cave.

The shadows in Plato's cave represent us, humans, and it is important to get out of the cave. We must be like the freed prisoner. The first step for the shadow is to "stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains." (Plato 317) From total darkness to seeing light will cause great discomfort for the shadow at first. This is a change that will help the shadow to step out and later on to see the reality. We have to take the first step, or in order words realize the change that is happening. By accepting change we can then gradually start to improve and grow our knowledge. For the shadow, the change showed him truth and reality. For us, a change should also be something that we can learn from and seek truth. To do something we are not use to or new can be difficult, therefore we must learn to get use to and adapt to changes.

By time and adaptation, we will adjust and benefit from the change.

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