Abstract
This paper explains that, in the metaphor of the cave and its dwellers, Plato states that the world as human perceive it is like a dark cave, where all human beings sit around a fire, staring into the light; they cannot see one another, the nature of reality, or the heavens with any great understanding in such a dark and cloistered environment. The author points out that any individual who dwells in "real life" can have some inkling of the use of the metaphor, separating the gesture of goodness in name or in physical action alone from the actual, meaningful gesture of either selfless love that does not demand a reward or enact a real, physical result in the world, rather than simply obey a social code. The paper concludes that Plato's metaphor is a positive and active approach for human philosophy because it suggests that a complete form of understanding is possible, despite the pain it may cause.

From the Paper
"The reason that human beings do not have a full sense of a real and a complete life is because the world, as we cave dwellers see it, is not experienced fully and in the flesh of the present moment. Rather, it is only experienced in a shadowy and inconsequential fashion. Because human beings are distanced, because of a poor philosophical education, from the nature of the world's reality, the fire blinds us, or we mistake the shadows we see for truth. The heavenly philosophical apprehension of a greater truth that is more fully conceived and more intellectually substantive than the life on earthly is much better than what we actually pass our day to day existence in, which are simply copies of "the real"."

Tags:dwellers, dark, environment, cloistered, goodness

Abstract
This paper takes a look at Auel's novel about the co-existence of two species of man and explains how the book illustrates a number of the differences in the two societies that made one species more adaptable and enduring, becoming modern man.

From the Paper
"In addition to this general premise by which all of the members of the clan must abide, the Cave Bear community is extensively spiritual. Conflicts within the spirit world routinely have consequences for the human world: "Illness and accidents were mysterious manifestations of the war of the spirits, fought on the battleground of the body." (Auel 19). So, disasters, deformities, and everything that is the result of providence is deemed to have some meaning derived from the spirit world. Accordingly, in the interest of not upsetting the spirits, Brun concedes to allow Iza to care for the child; inwardly judging that she will grow tired of such a burden. This is the primary conflict that the child, Ayla, presents to the Clan: she is decidedly not one of them, but numerous signs indicate that she is of spiritual importance-specifically what this importance might be is considerably hidden to them. The sympathy Iza initially holds for Ayla is not altogether explained; she herself fails to understand it. Auel writes, "Iza didn't know why she felt such concern for a child so different from the clan, but she wanted her to live." (Auel 19). Some common motherly bond drew Iza to Ayla's side, and the Neanderthals essentially attributed this to her connection with the spirits-which are often irrational."

Tags:girl, adopted, cave-dwelling, females, subordinate, position, males, iza, brun, ayla, creb

Abstract
The paper discusses how Plato is proposing that rule over society by philosopher-kings has merit, for this allegory conveys Plato's philosophical contention that most people in society are like prisoners in a darkened cave who fail to realize that what they perceive all around them is not reality, but only a shadowy and distorted representation of it. The paper explains that this allegory symbolizes and supports Plato's contention that there are underlying truths beneath the political and social surface of society which the average person does not perceive. The paper discusses how only the most enlightened can perceive these underlying truths, understand them, and act upon them for the collective benefit of everyone in society.

From the Paper
"In concisely summarizing the main point in Plato's "Allegory of the Cave", it is evident that he is proposing that rule over society by philosopher-kings has merit, for this allegory conveys Plato's philosophical contention that most people in society are like prisoners in a darkened cave who fail to realize that what they perceive all around them is not reality, but only a shadowy and distorted representation of..."

Tags:allegory, of, cave

Abstract
The paper uses the allegory of the cave by Plato to answer a question on the power of religion and spirituality. The paper provides historical examples of Nazi Germany and slavery in the United States and also looks at the film "The Shawshank Redemption".

From the Paper
"The allegory of the cave is an allegory used by the Greek philosopher Plato in "The Republic". Imagine prisoners, who have been locked deep inside a cave: they are immobilized by chains; their heads are chained in one direction so that their gaze is fixed on a wall. Behind the prisoners is an enormous fire, and between the fire and the prisoners is an elevated walkway. Puppets of various animals, plants, move along the walkway. The puppets cast shadows on the wall, and the prisoners watch these shadows. When one of the puppet-carriers speaks, an echo against the wall causes the prisoners to believe that the words come from the shadows. I believe that our world is very similar to the one..."

Tags:plato, allegory, cave

Abstract
The paper describes the Seated Buddha found in the Sokkuram Cave-Temple located at Kyongju, South Kyongsang Province. The paper describes and critiques the artifact with an eye towards divining what its true meaning is. The paper discusses how the sculpture seemingly reflects a commonplace theme in Buddhist theology - but the sculptors have still succeeded in injecting a measure of ambiguity.

From the Paper
"The Sokkuram Cave-Temple dates back to the second-half of the eighth century AD and is highlighted by an impressive sculpture of a seated Buddha made completely out of granite and standing 326 cm in height (New York Metropolitan Museum of Art 2007a). The context within which this unique artifact was rendered is fascinating for those who are intrigued by..."

Tags:sokkuram, cave, temple

Abstract
This paper describes the beautiful, complex and sophisticated Paleolithic artwork on the wall panels of Chauvet cave that have led to the questioning of the use of the stylistic method of dating. Next, the author presents the debate over the use of carbon dating versus stylistic dating. The paper concludes that the discovery of Chauvet cave reveals not only the flaws of the stylistic dating methodology but also the vulnerability of its result so that it should not be used in assigning dates to Paleolithic art. A table is included in the paper.

Table of Contents:
Background
Brief Description of the Artworks in the Cave
Interpreting the Significance of the Discovery of Chauvet Cave and its Artworks
The Stylistic Dating Contention
Carbon Dating versus Stylistic Dating
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In contrast, the unreliability on the use of stylistic dating became more glaring with the discovery of Chauvet cave. In addition to the possible error of dating the Chauvet cave between 21,000 - 17,000 years, its method has already been questioned in the same year that the Chauvet cave has been discovered. It proved to have erred in dating the engravings at the Foz Coa dam construction site.
"The vulnerability of stylistic dating has been further revealed by the study of von Petzinger in 2010. In the study of von Petzinger, it revealed that certain symbols and art form used in stylistic dating was in fact not exclusive in a certain period as assigned by stylistic dating but rather, ubiquitous in the entire palaeolithic era. Examples cited were the dots, the positive and negative and hands and the finger fluting implying that stylistic dating could be inaccurate.
"There was also another method suggested by several authors after the discovery of the Chauvet cave that to really appreciate and determine the stylistic context of the art forms in the cave, it should be compared with other caves."

Tags:sophistication, human hand, limitations, aurignacian era, anachronism

Abstract
This paper analyzes the meaning of Plato's "Allegory of the Cave", explaining how it represents a pilgrimage of the human mind from ignorance to enlightenment. The paper begins with a biography of Plato's life and a discussion of some of the scholarly differences regarding the type of man Plato actually was. Next, the paper focuses on Plato's concepts of truth, reality, and knowledge as represented in "The Cave" and summarizes its dialogue. Additionally, the influence of Socrates's friendship with Plato and of his death on Plato's writing of "The Cave" is discussed in this paper.

Abstract
Introduction
The Allegory of the Cave - an Analysis
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The Republic is written by the Greek philosopher Plato in 500 BC. It is said that Plato's real name was Aristocles and that Plato was a nickname. Plato was the youngest son of Ariston and Perictione and came from a wealthy family who had lived in Athens for many many generations. Plato's real father died when he was very young and he grew up in his step-father Pyrilampes house. History shows that Plato studied under Cratylus who was a student of Heracleitus. The most interesting and most talked about relationship of Plato is that with Socrates with whom he became friends while very young. Plato got to know Socrates through his Uncle Charmides who himself was a close friend of Socrates."

Tags:philosophy, light, sun, prisoner, re-educated, world, objects, athens, academy

Abstract
This paper gives a vivid picture about Plato?s "Allegory of the Cave" from his book of "Republic". It examines his contention of Ideal Rule with reference to his "Allegory of the Cave" and also the various considerations that are considered necessary to build an ideal state. It looks at how the "Republic" of Plato is considered a treatise on how to lead life in personal, professional, and social circumstances and how the ideals that he mentions in his work have their limitations in becoming practical. In this paper, the emphasis is kept on the simile of the cave suggested by Plato, and the Ideal Rule is explained in relation to this allegory.

From the Paper
"Plato compares the fire in the cave to that of the sun's power. The journey that the prisoner takes from the cave into the light of the sun stand to signify the journey of the soul to the intelligent realm. Here he makes the sun stand to represent all that is good, and the source of all goodness or the summum bonum or the greatest good thereby indicating that reaching goodness is the ultimate goal of knowledge. He feels that we have not completed our journey until we accept it. The journey is not complete until we have arrived here. He feels that an individual who has seen the sun cannot pretend to like it as he has not done so."

Tags:society, life, knowledge, republic

Abstract
The early world of architecture is believed to have come from five individual civilizations: the central Asian area, the Mediterranean basin, central and northern Europe, eastern Asia, and the Americas. This paper presents an overview of the evolution of houses and shelters. It begins with the most primitive people who did not build dwellings at all, although the animals around them did. It discusses the advent of housing structures at different times in different cultures and describes some of the techniques that were tried and discarded as inefficient.

From the Paper
"Several building techniques have been invented over time and those that were ineffective were quickly disposed of. Building techniques have varied depending on the materials used and by the customs that certain nations had. "Some civilizations are essentially temple or tomb builders, like Egypt; some are chiefly creators of vast structures for general public use, like the Romans; some are known especially for their palaces, like the Baroque European powers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries." ( Hamlin, pp. 5)
"The first complex shelters that people built were round huts built out of wood and hides or out of stones. The first people to build huts chose to build them partly underground. They are named round pit dwellings. Such structures were initially conic and people later discovered that they became more effective when they had vertical walls. As hut building began to evolve, people started to arrange them in a specific pattern with the intention of making a complex building of larger dimensions."

Tags:pit dwellings, mud-brick construction Japanese cave-dwellers