Hyperealism.

Plato's cave.
The above image show a group of people chained to a wall facing a blank wall. They have been chained up all their lives so the blank wall is all they know. Their necks have also been chained disabling them to turn their heads and see a glimpse of reality. Above and behind them, a fire blazez and is the only source of light in the cave.The only light shining through the cave allows shadows to be cast onto the wall. These shadows are of themselves also things moving in front of the fire. Puppet shows are performed for the prisoners by showmen. These shadows are the closest views of reality for the prisoners so accept this as life.  The truth is literally nothing but the shadows.

Plot then presents the case in which one of the prisoners is released from the chains. The prisoner then stands up and turns around seeing the puppets which were casting the shadows and the puppetteres themselves. The prisoner would be amazed at what he was seeing sure, however he may start to question what is real and what is fiction.


Plato also presents the case in which the prisoner is dragged out of the cave. Again , he is thrown into a world where there is more truth than before. He is introduced to real sunlight for the first time in his live, which has been always been in the darkeness of the cave. If this were the case, he's eyes would adjust to the intensity of the sun's rays.

With this new found truth, the prisoner would most likely feel bad for his former companions in the gave. The prisoner returns to the cave and sits amongst the prisoners.
Because the shadow puppets were all the prisoners knew, they grew familiar with the sequencing and movements of the puppets. After returning to the cave the man's eyesight has not yet adjusted to the darkness and is laughed at by his former equals. So, leaving the cave, or turning around, would be viewed as a detrimental pursuit because it dulls the eyes.