Plato's Cave Allegory and Technology's Grip on Truth

Introduction: The Cave as a Modern Metaphor

In his Allegory of the Cave, Plato depicts a world where prisoners are held in a cave for their entire lives (Cohen). Puppeteers cast shadows on the wall of the cave, and the prisoners perceive those shadows as reality. Upon breaking free, the prisoners come to the realisation that their entire existence has been a lie — that others have controlled their lives all along. This allegory has a great deal of relevance today, particularly in the age of technology.

Today's human beings can be likened to those prisoners. Technology controls us — from television to computers, phones, and cars, technology does everything for us. In spite of its advantages, it distracts us from the truth and blinds us to inherent dangers. Even when outside the cave, we can see how technology easily conceals the truth from us. This paper examines how the internet, computers, and the media have blinded us from reality.

The Internet and the Spread of Propaganda

One of the defining hallmarks of the 21st century is the internet, a phenomenon that has gained immense prominence over the last three decades. The internet has tremendously changed how people and organisations communicate and interact. It has eliminated geographical and physical barriers and increased the flow of information. With social media, for instance, it is now possible for people to stay in touch with friends, relatives, and acquaintances anywhere in the world without relying on traditional channels such as telephone and mail. Further, the internet has enabled organisations to market their products and engage their customers online. Today, virtually everything can be done online — from business and shopping to reading, learning, information sharing, music, gaming, and television. The internet offers possibilities perhaps never imagined before.

There is a downside, however. With the internet, spreading propaganda and untruths has become easier than ever. Individuals, organisations, and governments now find the internet a powerful tool for propagating falsehoods and advancing malicious interests. Browsing through websites and social media today, one encounters enormous volumes of information with no factual or scientific basis — propaganda aimed at creating fear and tension, as well as tarnishing products, brands, personalities, organisations, and governments. The unfortunate reality is that consumers of propaganda accept it as truth. That, in fact, is precisely how propaganda works: depicting falsehood as truth. Propaganda spread via the internet controls us — it forms the basis of our decisions, thoughts, and worldviews, and may consequently prevent us from achieving our full potential. Seung-yoon and Chomsky argue that the internet has considerably enslaved us. When we emerge from this cave, we realise how deeply propaganda has plunged us into a life of deceit.

Computers, Automation, and the Erosion of Critical Thinking

Closely related to the internet is the computer. Today, the computer is at the centre of human life. Virtually everything depends on a computerised process — from telecommunication and banking to customer service, air traffic control, airport management, healthcare, transport, the military, manufacturing, and agriculture. Even everyday household appliances are controlled by computerised applications, including microwaves, dishwashers, laundry machines, television sets, and home theatres.

Computers have certainly made our lives easier. Everyday processes are now automated, reducing the time, effort, and cost required to accomplish tasks. But have computers blinded us to underlying dangers? Nicholas Carr is one of the most prominent critics of human dependence on computers. He argues that overdependence on computers has increasingly diminished the ability of humans to think critically and analytically. This is evident in the fact that most tasks now require far less mental involvement, as virtually everything has been automated — including, increasingly, the driving of cars. While the value of computer automation cannot be overstated, Carr argues that computers are unlikely to ever completely replace the human brain. Human-made systems are prone to error, and when errors occur, humans must take over. The autopilot system is an ideal example: when it fails, the pilot must regain manual control of the aircraft. Such failures remind us that the assumption that computers can fully substitute for the human brain is not entirely true.

Conclusion

Overall, Plato's Allegory of the Cave enables us to understand how technology has blinded us from reality. Technology is without a doubt a crucial enabler of human existence in the 21st century; it has allowed humans to achieve far more than would have been possible in its absence. Nonetheless, it has also enslaved us, making us oblivious to underlying dangers. This is particularly true for the internet, computers, and the media. Emerging from this cave, however, does not necessarily mean abandoning technology altogether. Human existence without technology is, practically speaking, unimaginable. What matters is developing an awareness of its dangers.

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. "Nicholas Carr: 'Are we becoming too reliant on computers?'" The Guardian, 17 January 2015. Web. 28 January 2017.

Cohen, S. Marc. The Allegory of the Cave. Washington University, 25 July 2015. Web. 28 January 2017.

Lee, Seung-yoon and Noam Chomsky. "Why the internet hasn't freed our minds — propaganda continues to dominate." Alternet, 21 May 2015. Web. 28 January 2017.

The Impious Digest. "Plato's Allegory of the Cave and the Media." The Impious Digest, n.d. Web. 28 January 2017.