Plato's allegories: a pedagogical method for the pursuit of the good and critical thinking
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51660/riftp61369Keywords:
Plato, platonic allegories, good, philosophical pedagogy, critical educationAbstract
This article analyzes Plato's main allegories — the Cave, the Sun, the Divided Line, and the Chariot — as pedagogical resources oriented toward critical formation and the pursuit of the Good. It begins with the Platonic conception of the Good as the supreme Idea and the foundation of truth and justice, showing how the allegories translate abstract concepts into comprehensible narratives that guide the soul from ignorance to the contemplation of what is true. The study draws on classical and contemporary sources that highlight the relevance of these images in current education, especially in the face of factors such as cultural alienation, social conformism, institutionalized ignorance, and technological dependence, which keep individuals at low levels of knowledge. It concludes that Plato's allegories constitute a coherent pedagogical system capable of renewing philosophical teaching and inspiring a critical and liberating educational practice, oriented toward justice and social transformation.
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