Plato's Parable of the Cave

In Plato's "Parable of the Cave", it is questioned whether living in darkness and then being forced into light makes it understandable for these humans to want to go back into their safe environment where

they know "truth." The idea of having to adjust from darkness to the sun would force them to be reintroduced to their concept of truth. The reasons the prisoner could not be taken directly from darkness to light would include the idea they don't know anything other than shadows, the fear of the blinding effect of the "light" and how a prisoner might adapt to new ideas of truth.

First of all, trying to get someone to see mountains or the sun or even another human for the first time would cause fear and confusion in these freed prisoners. If they had lived their entire lives thinking that the cave was all that existed of the world then seeing a new truth would inspire rejection of these new ideas and retreating back into a safe place. According to Plato, "Will not their eyes be dazzled, and will they not try to get away from the light to something which they are able to behold without blinking?" So, if they never knew truth for what it was, what would prevent them from retreating back into darkness with their chained comrades?

Secondly, if pushed out into the sun would the prisoners not be blinded by the light of a sun they had never known? Plato writes, "...suppose further, that they are dragged up a steep and rugged ascent into the presence of the sun himself, will not their sight be darkened with the excess of light?" Perhaps this is indicative of human nature to shun what it does not know or recognize. To see the sun for the first time and know nothing of its purpose or how it came to be lodged so high is the sky might cause the prisoner to panic or hide or even return to the cave.

Finally, suppose that you do not set the prisoner directly in the sun but where the sun shines and casts shadows that the prisoner would see and know from the cave. With time, they would begin to see the same shadows in the water and on the ground as they saw in the cave. Then they could see the rocks, stars, moon, and sun all where they should be; in the heavens or on the ground. They would soon see

the changes from day to night and the passing of the seasons and rejoice in truth.

In conclusion, only time can help someone accept

...