This post is kind of random. I feel like I’m about to write a book report, but it’s been a minute since I’ve been in school so forgive the poor execution. The other day I found one of my old philosophy books from college. It included Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. As I reviewed the allegory, it was like reading how my life has felt over the last few months since going vegan. I realized that I was the escaped prisoner from the allegory.
Summary of the Allegory of the Cave
The Cave and the Prisoners
Plato posits the following scenario. At the bottom of a dark cave is a group of prisoners facing a wall. The opening to the cave is behind them. Between the prisoners and the opening is a path along which puppeteers carry all sorts of different figures. A fire behind the puppeteers casts shadows of the objects onto the wall in front of the prisoners.
The prisoners are shackled in such a way that they cannot move, not even to turn their heads. So they are unaware of all that is behind them. All they have ever known is the wall of shadows in front of them. They can hear the figures making noise. But they assume the sounds they hear belong to the shadows themselves as the shadows are their only known reality.
A Prisoner Breaks Free
Then Plato goes on to suggest what would happen if one of the prisoners breaks free. He would move around and at first be blinded by the light of the fire and unable to clearly see the true figures. Pained by this blinding light, he wouldn’t want to explore further and might retreat to the comfort of the reality he knew before.
But if someone forced him to walk up to the path to get a closer look, though irritated, he would ultimately realize the truth after an adjustment period. His eyes would adjust to the light, he would see the fire and the figures casting the shadows, and realize everything he knew before was an illusion. He might then move up to the opening of the cave, and go into the sunlight. Again he would be blinded. But after an adjustment period he would see the whole wider world and realize his limited vision was all wrong.
Once the freed prisoner knows the truth, he would feel obligated to return to share his knowledge and liberate the rest of the prisoners. However when he returns they do not believe him. His vision would again be compromised, coming back to the dark from the sunlight would require another adjustment period. So the prisoners, seeing his blindness and discomfort would assume he was mad for asking them to follow his path.
Plato explains that the prisoners are in a state of ignorance. This is through no fault of their own, as this is simply the state they have been in from birth. He explains that education is like the liberation of the prisoner, but that this does not happen easily. There is an adjustment period.
Allegory Applied to Learning About Veganism
Of course this allegory can be applied to many situations, really to anything involving educating yourself about any unfamiliar topic. But it perfectly encapsulates how it feels to be vegan. Having once been a prisoner to the false reality that society has shown us, it feels futile once you know the truth because the other “prisoners” have trouble understanding that there could be any other reality until they see it for themselves.
The story we’ve known about our food system is like the shadows on the wall. While society, government, and tradition are like the shackles that do not allow us prisoners to see the truth. They manipulate the reality we see, as the puppeteers manipulate the prisoners. We only see what they want us to see. This is why it is so difficult to uncover the truth. It requires us to question authority and our whole reality.
And ignorance is bliss. If we’ve never known any other story, we have no reason to question that reality. So when we are forced to see anything different, we resist. Even if we have an inkling that what we believe might be wrong, it is easier to stay with the status quo. And just as the escaped prisoner struggles both in his journey out of the cave and back in, becoming vegan is a struggle because it is like navigating a new world.
As the escaped prisoner, you are in an awkward position. Desperately wanting to show everyone the truth. But the rest of the prisoners think it much better to stay put. And having been there yourself, you completely understanding their resistance.
What to Do? Have Some Compassion
So to the non-vegans out there, if it feels like a vegan is forcing you to “see the light” have a little compassion. Just as you may be annoyed at their persistence, realize they were once where you are too, and they are struggling too. They understand where you’re coming from since they once had to be forced to investigate too. Sometimes we have to be forced to get away from the only reality we know since it is more comfortable to stay put.
And once you know better, you must do better. This includes helping others uncover the truth and educate themselves. But to the vegans out there, especially new vegans, know that you cannot force the whole world to change. At least not all at once. Even though you have this newfound knowledge that seems so obvious to you now, patience is key. We must allow others to find the path and give them their own adjustment period.
Of course Plato is theorizing about the creation of government and civilization. And his allegory could apply to any number of topics. But I couldn’t help but notice the parallel and how perfectly this encapsulates my feelings on becoming vegan.
If you’re interested in exploring the topic of veganism, I highly recommend checking out some documentaries on the subject. Check out my Resources page for a few suggestions as well as resources that can support you in a transition to veganism.
