How does "The Allegory of the Cave" demonstrate Plato's view of structure of reality? Does this understanding enable him to reconcile the arguments of both Parmenides and Heraclitus?
Plato's view of the structure of reality is that reality exists in more than one level or degree, and that the two main degrees were being and becoming, which is changing, and imperfect. This is seen in "The Allegory of the Cave" by the people forced to look at the wall, which represents both being, and becoming, and just see the shadows of the bearers coming in and out. Socrates is seen by Plato as the one in the story who has been freed, and has seen the world, or becoming better, and less imperfect. He then came back to tell everyone in the cave about it, to lead them to a better being, which some don't want because their being where they are is much easier than to become better. This does reconcile for both of Parmenides' and Heraclitus' arguments because it gives both a place, and that the world has both being and change.
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