Week 1

Socrates suggests that, without philosophical education, we are all like the prisoners in the cave. I think he is right about it. In the Allegory of the Cave, I can relate to the prisoners, i have grown up in a country call Burma, which people were oppressed by military, the government was very close government. They made their own policy and control every part of people daily lives. From Media, Education to management the government control everything. They only allow people to see what they want the people to see and teach what they want people to learn. In other words, the people are like chained prisoners who are looking at the shadows in the cave. Because of the limited view and chained society a lot of parents and students thoughts were in similar views. Example - in Burmese old education system people believe Medical Degree would be held in highest level. students were forced and pushed to aim for to become a doctor even if they don't want to become one. My father would be an example of the prisoner in the cave. All his life his parents and the society keep telling him being a doctor is the best and taught him to become a doctor. he was good at math and science and really wanted to be an engineer. After he took university entrance exam,  he applied to engineering school but because he was qualify for medical school he was forced to joined medical school. it is prime example of a chained prisoner. even if he wanted to escape he was chained to the society and his society decide where he belong, which is to stay with them in prison and look at the shadow. i was brought up the same way as my father did, i hated my situation. when i was about 12 my dad had government exchange program and he get to attend university in the US for a year. After he came back, his idea and view changed. He said i can be whatever i want to be and choose any major or school i want. it is seem like he escaped to the sunlight and see things differently. it is seem like he liberated himself. Therefore, i agree that philosophical education is the way to escape from the cave. My father is educated and a brilliant doctor but all his education is book education. he was in a box, he never thought outside of the box until he had the opportunity to come and learn in the US. his mind was liberated and his thinking become more independent he is no longer chained. So from my own experiences if you study books and follow society, you will just become a book educated person but if you open your mind, think differently and see differently for yourself you will truly be free and truly educated.