Opposition to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

So, ignorance is bliss, but then, so is intellect. My personal feelings on this issue, like I’m guessing most people’s are, is that ignorance is a little bit of both, and so is knowledge. I certainly cannot say that Plato was wrong in his views on ignorance, as far as he was concerned he was right. I also could not fault one who was blissful in ignorance, or tell them that they are wrong for feeling so. Everyone, in my opinion, is right in what they personally feel, and none has the authority to tell them otherwise. There are things I simply would rather not know, and living life without knowing these things makes survival each day easier. However, I love the quest for knowledge, and sharing ideas and views with others, so certainly a life without the ability to do such things, would to me be quite grey and listless. It all depends on the scope and range of the knowledge one must have or want to attain in order to no longer be able to be classified as ignorant. If ignorance is simply the absence of a drive to learn, then I most certainly am not so, and seeing as I enjoy life, knowledge must be pleasant.

If ignorance is preference to stay in the dark about some things which one would rather not know, I prefer to stay ignorant, it helps me enjoy life. If a good chunk of mediated society lives life through the lies of opinion and image the media delivers, well, if they are happy then more power to them. Modern society is not a good reflection of the cave, but as far as either’s choice of life is concerned, they both have equal right to their chosen way of living. Plato as far as I am concerned was a great man, but his commentary on ignorance was self indulgent and personally motivated, seeking to place upon others his own definitions of things. This in mind, his parable should serve as a basis only for those who desire such a life as it offers them, and to all others as no more than a story.