CIE100: Common Intellectual Experience - Allegory of the Cave Writing Prompt (10 Points)

Assignment Goals

The goals of this assignment are:
  1. To reflect upon the course texts in preparation for thoughtful discussion
  2. To organize thoughts into a concise and cohesive response to a targeted question
  3. To consider multiple viewpoints about ideas

The Assignment

In this writing prompt, you will consider the questions below and write a 1-2 paragraph analytic response that thoughtfully reflects upon them. State your thoughts or opinions about the topic, supported by at least one quote from the text that reinforces your point of view. Then consider what a counter-argument or alternative viewpoint might be, and briefly discuss it, supporting it with at least one quote as well: a quote that illustrates the alternative viewpoint, or one that pushes back against it. Submit your response through Canvas before the start of class.

UDL choice: this genre is the default for this reading, but you may swap in any of the five response genres (analytic, letter, dialogue, marginalia+aphorism, or the Four A’s) as long as the quote and counterargument requirements are met.

Struggling with the reading itself? See the guide: How to Read Hard Texts in CIE.

Writing Prompt

  1. Plato describes prisoners who mistake shadows for reality, and a freed prisoner whose eyes ache in the light of the sun. In your own words, what do the chains, the shadows, the fire, and the ascent each represent? Why do you think the freed prisoner returns to the cave, and what reception does Plato predict?

  2. Consider the personalized feeds you scroll every day. In what ways might recommendation algorithms project shadows on your wall, and who are the puppeteers carrying objects in front of the fire? Is leaving this cave possible in 2026, and would you actually want to? Bring one concrete example from your own feed (a recommended video, a trend, an ad) that you are prepared to discuss.

Submission

Submit a word processed or PDF document.

Please refer to the Style Guide for code quality examples and guidelines.