If The Shoe Fits, Wear It.
“Sheeple” is a derogatory term that describes people who are easily controlled by a governing power or market fads. The term is a portmanteau of “sheep” and “people”. It highlights the passive herd behavior of people who:
Copy what other people do
Believe what they are told and do not think for themselves.
Are docile, compliant, or easily influenced.
Unquestioningly accept as true whatever their political leaders say.
Adopt popular opinion as their own without scrutiny.
Are easier to herd when frightened.
For example, most sheeple buy what other people buy.
BackyardPit
Sheeple, by Plato in the “Allegory of the cave.”
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The “Allegory of the Cave” is one of the most famous and enduring images from the work of the ancient philosopher Plato. It’s presented in Book VII of his work, “The Republic.” The allegory is used to illustrate Plato’s theory of forms, the nature of human perception, and the process of enlightenment. Here is a summary and an interpretation of the allegory:
Prisoners are chained inside a dark cave, facing the wall. They’ve been there since birth and cannot move their heads or bodies.
Behind the prisoners is a raised walkway and further behind that, a fire. Between the walkway and the fire, people carry various objects which cast shadows on the wall the prisoners are facing.
The prisoners can only see the shadows on the wall and, having never seen the real objects causing those shadows, take the shadows to be reality.
One day, a prisoner is freed. He is forced to turn and see the fire, the objects, and the outside world, which is illuminated by the sun. Initially, he is blinded and disoriented by the brightness.
As his eyes adjust, he recognizes that the shadows on the wall are mere illusions compared to the real objects and the world outside.
The freed prisoner feels pity for the other prisoners still inside the cave and returns to free them.
The remaining prisoners mock and resist him, preferring the familiar shadows to the unfamiliar reality.
The cave represents the physical world, with its transient and imperfect forms.
The shadows on the wall symbolize the distorted perceptions and beliefs that people hold based on their limited experiences and understanding.
The fire symbolizes the limited light of the physical world, while the sun outside the cave represents the form of the good or the ultimate truth in Plato’s realm of forms.
The journey of the freed prisoner is symbolic of the philosopher’s path to enlightenment and knowledge.
The resistance of the chained prisoners symbolizes how many people are resistant to changing their views or understanding, even when presented with the truth.
Plato uses this allegory to stress the importance of education and the philosopher’s role in society. The philosopher, like the freed prisoner, has seen the truth and should, therefore, be the one to lead or guide society. This allegory is still widely referenced today, as it touches on themes of perception, reality, and the pursuit of truth.
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Hillsdale College is a small, Christian, classical liberal arts college in southern Michigan that operates independently of government funding. Our students come from nearly all of the United States and a dozen foreign countries, and drawn to the challenge of a Hillsdale education, they grow in heart and mind by studying timeless truths in a supportive community dedicated to the highest things.
