Week 1 - Plato's Cave.

In the Allegory of the cave, Socrates conveys the idea that the prisoners in the cave are "like ourselves" meaning without philosophical education we are like the prisoners in the cave. The prisoners know just what they see in front of them but it is so much more than what they are shown. 

I agree with socrates entirely. Many people would rather live with illusion which makes life easier and comfortable for them, in other words ignorance is bliss, some find it easier to not know or become enlightened about what actually is but just choose to see what little they are shown. philosophy allows us to think critically about questions we want the answers and explore the world for what it actually is. 

Philosophy is suppose to liberating in the way that it challenges our assumptions and forces us to rethink the image created for us about the world. It also allows us to become more open minded on things that make us uncomfortable and to think about questions we always wondered the answers to. Philosophy explores new ways to think and challenge ourselves allowing us to view life differently and develop new perspectives. 

I believe that Socrates is right to be so pessimistic about life without philosophy because without it we would not ask questions about the world and society which we live in, we then would become prisoners in a cave only seeing what is shown to us. philosophy allows us to control our own lives with the power of knowledge.