The arguments of Plato to Butler - Essay Example

Compare the arguments of Plato to Butler - Analyze the underlying commonalities/differences in Plato/Butler Explain how Plato’s allegory of the cave can be read alongside “The Book of Martha” to think about the role that knowledge plays in the attempt to improve our lives. Plato’s “allegory of the cave” poses a similar argument with the Butler’s account “The Book of Martha” whereby their core common purpose entail quest for attaining knowledge. Hence, the key characters intend to liberate their people from common mediocrity that blinds them from understanding their lives’ goals besides how they should be living. Plato’s prisoners represent the ordinary people comprising the society that is yet to attain the right knowledge and wisdom meant to free themselves from their enslaving appetitive desires (Plato 53). This is similar to the Butler’s society; where Martha holds a long dialogue with God though, in this account, the protagonist’s represents her society. However, Martha’s knowledge is much more elevated compared to the ordinary people whom God plans to enlighten through her. This is evident from the way she is able to brainstorm and come up with ideas (the idea of dreams) meant to redeem the ordinary people. Martha’s knowledge or wisdom level is similar to Plato’s freed prisoners, who have returned to the cave with a diverse perspective regarding how they view life besides other aspects. This is contrary to what they used to perceive things seemed like before they resurfaced in the cave. Besides, the bound prisoners deem their peers who had the chance to go out and learn the reality of things; possess corrupted form of insight where after arguing, they intend to terminate their lives. This is similar to Martha’s case where she is unwilling to return to the world once God assigns her the duty of educating His earthly beings. Since, she is afraid that they may kill her when she emerges with a different perspective regarding life’s predicaments and how to solve them (Butler 171). Both Plato’s prisoners and Martha’s inability to comprehend God’s nature unveil humanity’s mediocrity that is a need of knowledge. This is to liberate the entire society from its appetitive desires bounding it to unending ignorance; hence there is need to employ adequate measures (of imparting knowledge) to eliminate them. Therefore, both Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Butler’s account “The Book of Martha” bear the same approach concerning how to impart their respective societies with the right knowledge meant to thrive or develop. What do these authors want us to know? The authors via these accounts imply that, we usually see things from the perspective which life’s knowledge has prepared us. Hence, Butler’s argument, “"You see what your life has prepared you to see," God said” (Butler 209). Therefore, people despite drowning in their society’s dubious mediocrity, will still persist to hold onto it, which is apparent from the cave prisoners’ stubbornness. These cave prisoners see their peers’ mind reformation as a corrupted way of thinking whereby they are ready to kill them, which is also similar in the Butler’s account (Butler 171). Hence, people despite their strong guest to advance their knowledge, normally lack internal liberty meant to accept it, whereby to some extent term any new idea as retarded mediocrity. Besides, the authors intend to imply the only few enlightened people in the society end up assuming the top posts or undertaking key responsibilities meant to develop the ignorant characters. This is regardless of peers’ resistance. For illustration, Plato contends that, philosophers owing to their knowledge and wisdom ought to be kings, which is similar in the Butler’s account (Plato 166). Martha after getting enlightenment, God proposes to use her in redeeming the world, where he comes with an idea of resurrecting her. However, Martha wonders why God does not utilize other individuals, but he continues to insist on sending her to the world. How do we get that knowledge? According to both Plato and Butler, for an individual to attain the necessary knowledge entails seclusion from the ordinary people. This is leaving the environment where a person resides or rising above the circumstances that bound him to society’s retarded mediocrity, which he or she intends to eradicate. Conversation between mother and God according to Butler’s account is in heaven where her creator feels it is necessary to revive her to life. Since, she has the right wisdom and knowledge to enlighten those whom she left on earth. Hence, we attain knowledge only through instruction from those people who possess high capacity than us. This is via first detaching ourselves from those ideals we deem they are right according to our perspectives. Primarily, this entails allowing ourselves to experience internal liberty and be receptive to new ideas and adopting willingly innovative ways of doing things. For illustration, both these two accounts depict how the enlightened few return to their societies with the intention of instructing them on how to view life’s challenges besides amending their ways. The latter aspect (amending their behaviors) is evident in Butler’s account where God through His conversation with Martha devices diverse ways into which the earthly people can advance themselves alongside embracing good morals. Who benefits from having it? The attained knowledge significantly benefits the society. Since, those who are more enlightened in the society normally act as kings or leaders whereby their knowledge is essential in championing diverse projects and aspects meant to help the ordinary people. Hence, the beneficiaries of knowledge cannot claim to enjoy its fruits fully alone while living in a society where they need to have comfort, and it is in chaos. Since, the urge to enjoy comfort or other societal benefits prompts them to move masses to attain some of the factors whereby one cannot ensure singlehandedly. These encompass security and unity, which entails cooperation from other people. Conversely, knowledge in some instances benefits those who have struggled to attain it, whereby one enjoys admiration of other ignorant people in the society. Since, an individual is able to hold varied posts in the community, which entail extra expertise to mobilize masses or champion projects towards varied set targets. For illustration, the philosophers where according to Plato they should be kings, hence assuming an elevated status in the society owing to the knowledge they have acquired, though their core work is to give directives (Plato 166). Therefore, knowledge benefits both those who possess it and the society though the latter enjoys more benefits despite comprising of numerous ignorant people. What do these stories mean politically? Good leadership comprises of individuals who possess heightened knowledge capacity meant to influence masses towards attaining their collective goals. These encompass security, unity and development though the enlightened few encounter rejection to the extent of some of the ignorant members in the society devising to terminate them. This is evident from Martha’s argument while complaining to God about what she will encounter on earth after emerging with a new perspective of judging and viewing diverse aspects in the society. Hence, the leaders ought to be strong and never give up, but utilize the knowledge they have possessed to push for developments that will be for the best of the entire community. This is regardless of some not being able to comprehend due to their ignorance. Plato’s incident of returning cave prisoners implies that, political leaders ought to detach themselves from the common collective thinking if their intention is the impact a consequential change (Butler 203). Since, they cannot lead and execute diverse strategies meant to help the society if they utilize the same mentality with the ordinary person. Hence, they have to seek knowledge, which is essential in a political arena for one to keep the aspect of personal reinvention. This is evident with Martha’s situation while conversing with God where she learns how to affect a consequential change after her revival to existence. Besides, leaders ought to attain ideas where they will utilize them to develop their communities. Both the returning cave prisoners and Martha after attaining the necessary knowledge, they embark on a common mission to enlighten their respective societies. This is especially through eroding the old perspective of viewing life and amending their ways to shun God’s wrath especially the Martha’s society. Do these two stories share a political message? If so what might that a message be? Be sure to ground your paper in close readings of Plato and Butler. Yes. The message encompasses political leadership, whereby the individuals holding diverse posts ought to have adequate knowledge and courage to mobilize their masses towards their set goals. This is by first eradicating people’s old thinking and turning them to embrace new perspective of perceiving life (Butler 203). For illustration, both Martha and the returning prisoners possess different perspectives regarding life or aspects that comprise their respective societies. Therefore, after attaining adequate knowledge, their core work entails transforming communities though they are afraid of what will befall them. For illustration, God intends to send Martha on earth purposely to tell people to amend their ways. This is after an extensive conversation with God regarding dreams, which according to her people ought to attain what they conceive in mind while asleep. According to Martha, this is what should comprise an ideal society where she contends of an enjoyable intimacy when one is dreaming (Butler 210). Since, this is incomparable to when one is awake. Work Cited Butler, Octavia E. Bloodchild and Other Stories. New York: Seven Stories, 2005. Print. Plato; & C D. C. Reeve. Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co, 2004. Print. Read More