Leaders, Followers, and the Cave Allegory
Susan Nevin
The whole idea of the Cave Allegory is extremely interesting. The concept that the prisoners are living in what they believe to be a reality, when in fact, shadows aren’t real beings, but rather just a part to a whole. However, the prisoners have no idea, and think that the shadows and echoes of voices may be the real being. But, Socrates questions that if one of the prisoners were to break free and see the whole world, would the prisoners reject his radical ideas and try to kill him? I think that this whole idea is really compelling, and it begs the question that is it better to be aware but be killed or permanently hurt for the knowledge, or it is better to live in harmony and ignorance with everyone else.
In addition, I think that this whole metaphor relates to the leader follower dynamic, and how sometimes people reject a leader because they are scared of their unique ideas, and the group mentality always wins against an individual. For example. John W. Gardner argues in his novel, Leaders and Followers, that, “leaders must have a capacity for rational problem solving; but they also must have a penetrating intuitive grasp of the needs and moods of followers.” Therefore, I would claim that these articles and videos argue there is a fine line between what they should tell their followers versus what should be kept in the dark to keep the peace and avoid utter chaos.
I believe that if one is to come out of the prisoner mentality and realize the truth of reality, it becomes that person’s responsibility to enlighten others around. It would be even worse for someone to live in fear of persecution and death, in addition to allowing others to suffer while knowing the truth. Would not persecution and death be a way to escape those illusions, anyway?
There are dangers on both sides of the spectrum. On the one hand, a group mentality of shared norms and values could easily become a tool of imprisonment. On the other hand, group mentality could be a great thing to enhance structure and order within the group. It would be up to the group on who it would want to serve as the leader.
I think your connection between the “Allegory of the Cave” and “Leaders and Followers” is really interesting. After the prisoner left the cave and later returned, it created a separation between that person and the rest of the prisoners. I wonder if the same prisoner would have been better suited to convince the group to go to the surface if he/she had never left in the first place (because they would have been a congruent part of the group)?