Allegory and Idealism in Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park And The Lost World
This paper presents a detailed discussion on the use of allegory and idealism in Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park and The Lost World. The writer draws several examples from the story to illustrate the use of allegory and then discusses its effectiveness. There were three sources used to complete this paper.

In many literary works the authors use methods that might be considered metaphoric to make their point. In the case of science fiction the author is given a lot of freedom to use things such as metaphors and allegory characters to present an underlying message to the readers. The ability to use allegory in science fiction is strengthened and enhanced because of the very nature of the genre. Aliens, monsters and man made creatures often grace the stories, allowing the allegory effect to be utilized.

Before one can fully understand the…...

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References

Crichton, Michael. Jurassic Park Mass Market Paperback 1992

Crichton, Michael, The Lost World. Mass Market Paperback 1996

Jurassic Park, or, Sympathy for the Dinosaur Joe Sartelle Bad Subjects, Issue # 5, May 1993(accessed 5-4-2002) (http://eserver.org/bs/06/Sartelle.html)

Crossing to that desk, these artifacts seemed to say, required both submission and opposition, and both of them in extreme degrees.
Before that could even be attempted, however, the observer was met by the young man springing up from behind the third desk in the room, the one that sat only five or six feet back from the doorway and the tinted plate glass. This man was younger; certainly younger than the officer seated behind his right shoulder and younger than anyone ought to be before earning the medals and taking the pictures situated behind him to his left. He was unblemished, cheerful, and welcoming. The observer began to be replaced by a more active self, no longer simply viewing the scene and people before him, but ushered into active participation as a soft flow of patter and wisdom flowed from the young man in uniform.

Seats were taken, beverages declined,…...

But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'ho in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" (Carroll, 8) Carroll uses Alice's experiences as a means to persuading his readers to demand similar questions of themselves.
At this juncture, we are unclear on Carroll's motives in altering Alice's perspective. However, as she descends deeper into onderland, she finds this knowledge is invaluable for recognizing its inherent absurdity and disorder. These are features which may be said to apply to the 'real world' from which Alice has descended, but it is only with the shift in perspective that each allegory in his narrative allows that she may actually recognized the absurdity of the society she had accepted.

Alice's revelations are in the area of self-awareness whereas Shakespeare navigates us through the revelations produced in the confusion of love and courtship. The messy situation which is produced in both…...

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Works Cited:

Carroll, L. (1865). Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. The Barta Press.

Empson, W. (1983). Alice in Wonderland: The Child as Swain. Literature and Psychoanalysis.

Kincaid, J.R. (1973). Alice's Invasion of Wonderland. Modern Language Association.

Olson, P. (1957). A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Meaning of Court Marriage. The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Butler agrees that a person has to find his or her own state of goodness (32). To go along with what society agrees with or counts as good doesn't mean anything to Plato; majority has opinion but not knowledge. To begin, Goodness itself is related to the Form of the Good. The Form, in a Socratic sense, is what we rely on to categorize the variety of examples of Goodness. This can be understood in terms of judging a recipe contest. f someone were to win a prize for a green bean casserole, another wins a prize for a chocolate cake, and another wins a prize for their barbecue chicken, what do these things have in common? They all won prizes at the same recipe contest, and they were all categorized as good. but, what is good? How do we judge good? The fact that they are all categorized…...

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If we are to think about Form in our society today, we could think about desires. Many individuals have the desire to be wealthy. What makes a person wealthy would depend on the Form which the person believed in. For one person, a Porsche and a mansion would make them wealthy; for another, it would be a boat and a swimming pool. These are just objects, but what is real is the Form -- wealth. Eyres (2009) claims that democracy has evolved from oligarchy and the oligarchs at the top that already have wealth keep desiring more wealth. Eyres purports that people can become addicted to these Forms -- the desires and the appetite for more wealth. This desire isn't usually specific to the object, it is about the idea of more of the Form and whatever that Form means to that person.

Plato said, "the likely outcome of excessive freedom is only slavery in the individual and in the society" (Eyres 22). Plato was a critic of democracy as a system of the majority rule because, again, he believed that the majority rule was about opinions and not knowledge and that it excluded the opinion of the people who were not in the majority. Therefore, someone's life can be completely altered because of a majority opinion. Plato adamantly believed that people have to find their own self-knowledge or the majority will make decisions for you. Plato argued that an individual has to own his or her own life or everyone else will own a piece of everyone else.

Plato's theories of democracies challenge our contemporary culture (Williamson 39) especially in regards to the long-standing tradition of rhetoric and how politicians use rhetoric to persuade the majority during elections. The key characteristic of Attic oratory is the appeal to the historical example as a way of winning over an audience. The chief purpose for Attic oratory, therefore, was to persuade people.

Similarly, the analogy can be made with anyone who continues to live an unhealthy lifestyle or pursue bad relationships.
The image of the light is a strong one in Plato's cave story. Light symbolizes knowledge, power, and information. Light symbolizes the truth. The word "enlightenment" refers to the person who sees the light, who sees the truth. Discovering the source of light proves that the shadows are merely illusions -- the effect of light bouncing off concrete objects. The awareness that reality is an illusion is a liberating but frightful experience. For many people, enlightenment creates too much pain. Enlightenment forces genuine lifestyle changes. Using Plato's analogy, enlightenment means leaving the comfortable and familiar world of the cave.

One of the key moments in Plato's allegory of the cave is when the individual must choose whether or not to return. Socrates rightly assumes that there is great risk in returning to…...

He pursues this by beginning to doubt of everything, even his own existence. He presents his reestablishment of reality as a series of proofs, like proving a mathematical formula.
hat is the first conclusion he reaches in this search? hat is the second?

Descartes first finding is that he exists because he is a thinking being, hence his famous statement: 'I think, therefore I am.' The second is that his mind is distinct from his body, that his mind stands apart from what he perceives with is senses.

Descartes - the Melted ax

In the discussion of the melted wax, how do we "know" the wax candle at the start? hat happens when the candle melts?

e know the wax by its properties, yet as the wax changes and melts, it changes its physical properties.

How do we know the melted wax is the same wax as the candle was?

Through our ability to rationally analyze…...

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Works Cited

Descartes, Rene. Discourse on Method and the Meditations. Translated by Lafleur.

Macmillan Publishing Co.

Plato. Great Dialogues of Plato. Translated by H.D. Rouse. New American

Library/Mentor Books.

He performs his search through the use of four tools or steps: accepting as true only what can be proven by facts, division of every question into manageable parts, beginning with simple issues and moving to the more complex and ultimately, the review of the facts frequently enough to maintain the whole argument.
D- What is the first conclusion he reaches in this search? What is the second?

In his search, Descartes first reaches the conclusion that the body is the first "substance" that exists- in other words, the individual is the first step of all that exists. This assertion is tempered by the second conclusion that God does exist and that God is the basis of the "solid" things that exist.

3. Descartes - the Melted Wax

A- in the discussion of the melted wax, how do we "know" the wax candle at the start? What happens when the candle melts?

The melted…...

Plato's Cave And Political Speech
Plato's allegory of the cave is applicable to many situations and events and has been used to comment on the political state of unions throughout the history of time. The most recent and tragic event of the assassination attempt of Gabrielle Giffords, amongst others, brought to light the ignorance of controversial politician Sara Palin. In articles by Mort osenblum and Cathy Lynn Grossman following the shooting of Giffords, a call for action against Palin and mindless calls for violence is analyzed.

osenblum points out Giffords political stance on several issues, which often differ from the popular view and opinion of Arizonan politicians. osenblum notes the irony of two of Giffords' political priorities, "sensible gun control and public healthcare for the mentally fragile" (osenblum 2011). It is a lack of support on both these issues that led to Giffords' shooting by Jared Loughner. Giffords attack my attributed to…...

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Reference List:

Grossman, C. (2011). Sarah Palin's 'blood libel' claim stirs controversy. USA Today.

Retrieved from

Rosenblum, M. (2011). In Giffords shooting, ironies abound: Gun control & health care for mentally fragile among priorities. TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved from

Socrates 469-399 B.C.E
Of the major philosophical works that describe Socrates and various aspects of his philosophy, one of the most intriguing is Plato's The Republic. Although this work was not actually authored by Socrates, he is the main character in it and, through the writings of his student Plato, a number of his philosophical concepts were advanced and gained credence with posterity. This work depicts Socrates going through numerous phases of life and offers plenty of philosophical musings that enlighten readers about his philosophy. However, other than some of his notions regarding the tenets of good and the Socratic method he regularly employed and which is still utilized within certain educational (and perhaps legal) settings today, the ideas that he disseminated that are perhaps the most characteristic of his philosophy are that of the philosopher kings/philosopher rulers and the Allegory of the Cave.

In some respects, it is virtually impossible to…...

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Works Cited

Plato. The Republic. www.constituion.org. 360 B.C.E. Web.  http://www.constitution.org/pla/republic.htm 

Confucius. The Analects. Project Gutenberg. Web.  http://www.archive.org/stream/theanalectsofcon03330gut/cnfcs10.txt 

Duncan, Christopher, Steinberger, Peter. "Plato's Paradox? Guardians and Philosopher-Kings." The American Political Science Review. 84(4), 1317-1322.

Morris, T.F. "Plato's Cave." South African Journal of Philosophy. 28(4), 415-432.

They have done so ever since he made them public, and while a lot of things about society have changed, the fundamental truth of how society handles its problems, its differences, and its dissenters have not.
The conclusions that Plato reached in his works have held up because they are honest and true. They also hold because human nature has not really changed very much since Plato's time (Nails, 2006). Technology and many other things have likely advanced far beyond what Plato could have imagined during his lifetime, but the intrinsic nature of the human beings who create that technology has stayed the same, and it appears as though it will continue to do so. This is a large part of what makes Plato's musings so valuable to philosophers and others. Would Socrates be persecuted today? It depends on exactly what he did based on the laws that are available…...

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Bibliography

Aristotle (1958) Politics. Trans. & Ed. Ernest Barker. London: Oxford University Press.

Guthrie, W.K.C. (1986). A History of Greek Philosophy: Volume 4, Plato: The Man and His Dialogues: Earlier Period. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Kahn, Charles H. (2004). "The Framework," Plato and the socratic dialogue: The Philosophical Use of a Literary Form. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Nails, Debra (2006). "The Life of Plato of Athens," A Companion to Plato edited by Hugh H. Benson. New York: Blackwell Publishing.

Plato's Cave Allegory
The allegorical account presented by Plato in the form of "The Cave" is very informative and educating if assessed and looked at from the proper perspective. The author of this report is to look at the movements and reactions of the mobile person in the cave. Plato is obviously making a point about life and how best to experience and learn from it. The author of this report shall give a quick summary of the movements of the man and what occurs around him and what changes greatly when his gaze is removed from the wall. While opinions and interpretations of this allegory may vary, the overall message Plato was trying to communicate is pretty clear.

Before getting into the analysis of what precisely Plato was trying to say through the cave allegory, it should be first be summarized what precisely happened and was explained so that the interpretations…...

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References

Plato. (2010). The allegory of the cave. Brea, CA: P & L. Publication.

Plato Cave
The Sociological Implications of Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Social enlightenment is an abstract concept indeed, and one that is tied closely to collective ways of understanding and perceiving complex cultural dimensions such are hierarchies, forms of governance and variances of individual economic burden. However, our understanding of this abstract concept may be enhanced by Plato's well-known "Allegory of the Cave." Comprising Chapter VII of Plato's critically important The Republic, the allegory examines the experience of socially-imposed ignorance and the consequences of enlightenment. In doing so, it offers an extremely compelling discussion on the human condition that is remarkable in its relevance to our lives today. Namely, the allegory forces us to examine our conceptions of awareness and to reflect on that which we truly know as opposed to that which we believe we know. Indeed, the most compelling aspect of the Plato allegory is the degree to which this…...

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Works Cited:

Plato. (360 BCE). The Republic trans. By Benjamin Jowett. The Internet Classics Archive.

epic book "The epublic" by Plato. Specifically it will discuss the "Allegory of the Cave" contained in the book and relate it to the background logic you brought to this class and establish whether or not this class has affected your background logic. If so how, and if not, why not? The allegory of the cave may be Plato's most famous allegory from his work "The epublic" and it is still a viable source of logic in today's world. However, I do not agree with all of Plato's logic, and my logic has not changed since taking this class -- in fact, the class has simply helped cement my own background logic in my mind even further.
After reading "The Allegory of the Cave" and attempting to understand Plato's logic and philosophy, I feel my background logic seems intact. Before I enrolled in this class, my logic was basically "If…...

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References

Plato, G.M.A. Grube, and C.D.C. Reeve. The Republic. Indianapolis, Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company, 1992.

In essence this means that humanity lives in a state of illusion that has been technologically constructed by an intelligence that provides people with an illusionary reality. In the film it appears that humanity is being kept in a state of illusion in order to be used as an energy source.
We can relate the scenario in the Matrix to the cave allegory in that the entire world has become trapped in a highly technologized ' cave' where mankind exists in a false and dreamlike state, completely unaware of the actual reality of their imprisonment.

However, there are a few people who are aware of the "shadows" that exist outside the cave. There are a number of human beings who have become aware of the "forms" or the true and horrific reality of their world and the true nature of human existence. Under the leadership of the mysterious Morpheus, they fight…...

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Bibliography

Wright, J. The Phaedrus, Lysis, and Protagoras of Plato: a New and Literal Translation Mainly from the Text of Bekker. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1921.

Plato and the Little Prince
Plato's Allegory of the Cave and the Little Prince of Antoine de Saint Exuprey

Plato's Allegory of the Cave in Book Seven of The Republic portrays a world in darkness, the darkness of a cavern. Individuals in the darkness of the cavern of the lived texture of reality, of a daily existence of neckties and golf as Antoine de Saint Exuprey might say, sit around a burning fire. This image represents human beings the world. The fire the human beings gaze at is the fire of the enlightenment the philosophers of humanity, are seeking, often in vain. Occasionally, the humans at the fire catch glimpses of a higher form of reality upon the walls of the cave in the form of shadows. The shadows, which represent how most human beings see reality, are really only dimly filtered versions of the true nature of the forms, or the…...

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Works Cited

De Saint Exuprey, Antoine. The Little Prince.  http://www.angelfire.com/hi/littleprince/chapter2.html 

Plato. The Republic. Allegory of the Cave, Book IIV.

Part I: The Allegory of Freedom and Confinement

1. The Bird in the Gilded Cage: Exploring the Paradoxes of Liberty
- Dive into the complex interplays of freedom and confinement through the allegory of a bird in a gilded cage. Discuss how the bird's perceived freedom is juxtaposed against the limitations imposed by its gilded prison.

2. The Broken Winged Songbird: A Metaphor for Resilience in Adversity
- Examine the resilience of a bird with a broken wing, exploring how it finds strength and hope amidst adversity. Draw parallels to human experiences of overcoming challenges and finding beauty within brokenness.

3. Of Caged....

1. Explain the concept of the Forms in Plato's philosophy and discuss its significance in his understanding of reality.

2. Compare and contrast Plato's views on education with contemporary educational practices.

3. Analyze Plato's theory of justice as articulated in his Republic and consider its implications for contemporary society.

4. Discuss the role of women in Plato's ideal society as outlined in The Republic and evaluate his views on gender equality.

5. Explore the concept of "philosopher-kings" in Plato's political philosophy and assess their suitability as rulers.

6. Examine Plato's belief in the immortality of the soul and consider its implications for his ethical and....

Chaucer's Mythic Tapestry: Unraveling the Influence of Ancient Lore on His Literary Masterpieces

Introduction

Geoffrey Chaucer, the revered English poet of the 14th century, left an enduring legacy in literature with his groundbreaking works, including "The Canterbury Tales." His writings are renowned for their vibrant characters, sharp wit, and insightful social commentary. However, less explored is the profound influence of ancient mythology on Chaucer's literary imagination. This essay will delve into the realm of news and scholarship to uncover recent advancements in understanding Chaucer's mythological influences, providing a compelling essay subject.

Medievalism and the Rediscovery of the Classics

During the Middle Ages, a renewed....

1. The influence of Greek mythology on Chaucer’s "The Canterbury Tales" and Boccaccio’s "The Decameron"
2. The portrayal of Greek gods and goddesses in Chaucer and Boccaccio’s works
3. The role of fate and destiny in Greek mythology and its connection to the themes of love and tragedy in Chaucer and Boccaccio’s writings
4. Comparing and contrasting the use of Greek mythological figures in Chaucer’s and Boccaccio’s works
5. The significance of classical allusions and references to Greek mythology in the literary techniques of Chaucer and Boccaccio
6. The role of heroism and epic narratives in Chaucer and Boccaccio’s works, drawing parallels to Greek mythological....