The Obligation to Transcend Essay example

Submitted By rosemarygrrrl
Words: 975
Pages: 4
Open Document
Eldard 1

The Obligation to Transcend
What is the ideal environment in which one can reach intellectual potential? What environment prevents one from reaching it? What is intellectual potential? These are the kind of questions addressed in Plato’s story,
The Allegory of the Cave
. According to Plato, the human soul must be exposed to certain developments in order to progress and lead others. His story details the experiences of a prisoner who has little knowledge of the real world due to his life in a cave, and his ascent into intellectualism. Associatively, the work of
Maslow’s Hierarchy details the stages of human needs. In Plato’s allegory, he expresses his theory that a leader must progress through several stages, similar to those presented in Maslow’s Hierarchy, before they can properly educate and enlighten others.
The first steps of Maslow’s Hierarchy describe the need for biological, psychological, and safety essentials. Such needs are regarded by Plato as necessities to maintain human life, but not necessarily contributory to intellectual development. In the cave, the prisoners are shackled to look straight ahead and watch shadows projected on a wall, with no indication that the shadows are not real beings. Though this activity seems to be all the prisoners are capable of doing, it is inferred that they are supplied with basic survival needs when stated, “they have been in this dwelling since childhood.” (Plato 1) The shadows and the cave relay them a sense of protection, law, and order, all elements that relate to Maslow’s stage of safety. When these things are threatened, their stability is shattered. Possessing no comprehension of an enlightened lifestyle, and having their basic needs provided for, the prisoners are content with their

Eldard 2

unconscious lack of insight. Only upon being exposed to the foreign needs they have been deprived of, will they recognize the importance of pursuing their undeveloped knowledge.
In relation, Plato’s story goes on to discuss the next stages of
Maslow’s Hierarchy
,
cognitive and aesthetic needs, by detailing the prisoner’s inability to experience intellectual appreciation when they fail to be cognitively challenged. When the prisoner is freed and is able to attain knowledge of the outside world, he is able to immediately recognize the difference between what he now knows, and what was considered “knowing” in the cave. When the prisoner sees the sun, he is able to use reason to acquire new knowledge of many things. Looking at the sun was once a painful process, but it was finally deemed worthy in his mind because of what he was able to gain. Below, the idea of the risk that is necessary to gain that knowledge, is shrouded by the prisoner’s fear of losing the first stage’s safe and routine elements of stability.
Maslow’s stages of love and belonging are not prevalent in Plato’s writing, but his stage detailing the need for esteem and achievement can still be applied. When the freed prisoner experiences the wonders of the outside world, he masters the ability to no longer fight incoming knowledge, and learns instead to accept it. In this new world, there is an ability to pursue goals and knowledge that is lacking in the cave. The absence of this denies the shackled prisoners of self­esteem and opportunities for personal achievement. These opportunities presented, the individual is exposed to the idea of self­actualization.
The final steps of
Maslow’s Hierarchy cover self­actualization and transcendence, the pinnacle ideas of Plato’s theory. Initially, upon ascending to the upper world, the freed prisoner is hesitant to accept what he sees due to the pain of the sun’s light, and the pain of losing the stability allowed to him below. Nevertheless, after experiencing a cycle of growth on the surface,

Eldard 3

this newfound growth provides him a sense of
Show More

Related Documents: The Obligation to Transcend Essay example

Essay on Morality and Heinz Steals

Lawrence Kohlberg was an avid follower of Piaget’s work. He modified and elaborated Piaget’s theories to come to his own conclusion of identifying the three major levels of moral reasoning. Each level represents a fundamental shift in the social moral perspective of the individual. The Pre-conventional level, Conventional level and the Post-conventional level are the three levels that make up Kohlberg’s theory of moral development and education. Kohlberg created this method by interviewing 72 boys…

Words 631 - Pages 3

Essay about London - William Blake

interpretations regarding this poem are that it talks about suicide and death, however, my opinion differs. I believe, the poet reveals through the poem that in the hard struggles of life, people may feel tired and have a desire to have time off from the obligations of the world. Just like in the poem, the speaker observes the woods with a keen interest and has an urge for time to cease, but he knows that he cannot stop because there are still responsibilities he has to finish. The 15th verse; “And miles to…

Words 325 - Pages 2

John Upton Sinclair's Essay: A Separate Peace

There is only one world where friendships between people run deep, like family. In a world where relationships can often appear temporary and superficial, the essence of true connection stands out all the more. Being a good relative transcends mere biological relations; it is about fostering genuine bonds, providing unwavering support, and nurturing mutual understanding. This depth of connection involves sharing joyous moments, laughter that echoes through time, and being a steadfast presence during…

Words 1016 - Pages 5

A Lesson Before Dying: A Literary Analysis

assembly-line worker. Once Easy finds an alternative vocation, he encounters several dangerous lifestyles that transcend racial profiles. In the work Fences, playwright August Wilson depicts a blue-collar family, led by Troy, a father with an unorthodox parenting style. Troy is unaffectionate toward his children and brash, caused by his jaded…

Words 968 - Pages 4

Nel Noddings: A Philosophical Analysis

gravity of the situation does not change, and our obligation is undiminished. The second argument is that everybody should pay their fair share instead of the burden being on one person. Singer responds by saying that this idea works in theory, but not in reality. The third argument is that we are too far to be able to help and know that our money is actually getting where we want it to go. The response is that distance is irrelevant, and that the obligation to donate still remains. The final argument…

Words 1188 - Pages 5

The Argument Essay: The Nature Of Free Will

rational agents to choose a course of action from among various alternatives. Free will is intimately connected to concepts like responsibility, blame, praise, ‘just’ punishment, and the like (some argue that free will is central to notions of moral obligation). Amongst the different philosophical positions on the subject is the idea of determinism. Determinism is most easily described as ‘fate’: the notion that past events following the laws of nature will bring about future events. Our ‘fates’ or…

Words 535 - Pages 3

Infidelity: Marriage and Relationship Essay examples

yourself: What are you doing to help your partner get past the affair?
 Be mature enough to recognize that life is not always all about you and what feels good for you in the moment. If you are married and have children, you have an obligation and a commitment that far transcends what feels good. Help the partner who did not have the affair find emotional closure. You must do whatever it takes until your partner finds it. If it requires you to check in with your spouse multiple times a day, then do…

Words 668 - Pages 3

Business: Law and Clint Eastwood Essay

of this retaliatory behavior. This law clearly overshadows the fundamental principal of duty to retreat, were if an individual is confronted with a possibility of danger they have the obligation to remove themselves from the situation, thus avoiding any possible use of deadly force. If a discussion starts to transcend into an argument the common…

Words 660 - Pages 3

The Role of Ethics Essay

fully with the general civil and criminal laws that apply to all individuals and institutions in the country. Ethical responsibilities reflect the company’s notion of right and proper business behavior. Ethical responsibilities are obligations that transcend legal requirements. Firms are expected, but not required, to behave ethically. Discretionary responsibilities are those that are voluntarily assumed by a business organization. Companies that adopt the good citizenship approach actively…

Words 1230 - Pages 5

Essay On Gender Discrimination

Gender oppression is a form of gender discrimination that is still thriving in our community. Incontrovertibly, it, however, transcends beyond masculinity or femininity. Since it does not act in disconnect, Gender oppression interconnects with discriminations which are based citizenship status, faith race, sexual orientation inter alia. Although tremendous strides have been realized towards the eradication of the vice in our community, it is nevertheless neatly interwoven into the very fabric of…

Words 1861 - Pages 8