I understand the cave allegory, but the whole thing still seemed rather vague. As an example of beings confined by circumstance (temporal, mental, etc.) it seemed right on target. Yet, the truth ideal seemed to come out of nowhere and was ill defined (ie. You can see the Truth - that I know - but am not going to say what it is, blah, blah. It just seemed like an intellectual cop-out.)
Even if the prisoners see their past circumstance in the cave how are the escapees sure that they're not simply in another, slightly larger, cave? They realized their circumstances before but could simply now be blinded by new ones. I see no reason for them to be content – or to have the smug sort of attitude implied in the writings.
The shadows, for what they are, are probably all anyone will ever "know."
I don't think that's such a bad thing.
That reminds me of a saying I've heard. It was something like, 'trust those who look for the truth, but never the ones that think they've found it'
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