To say that 2020 has been a challenging year would probably be the understatement of the century. Out of the many challenges thrown at us in this tumultuous time, Americans are faced with another one come November 3rd.
Out of the many issues brought up in the 2020 election, the ever apparent polarization of American politics is one rarely discussed. And as the gap between Democrats and Republicans grows, it becomes more important than ever not only to talk about why it is occurring, but to present real solutions to this concealed issue. Starting off this conversation, I turn to an unlikely source: Plato.
While the ancient Greek philosopher Plato is one of the most well-known and influential philosophers, many are unfamiliar with his writings and beliefs. In his work, The Republic, Plato writes about the Cave Image. In this image, everyone in this cave is chained up, not knowing about their surroundings or the circumstances of the cave. As a matter of fact, the only thing that can be seen is shadows cast on the walls by a fire behind them. If one were to be freed from these chains and look into the fire, they would experience a painful, yet entirely new perspective of their situation.
In using the cave image, Plato is evidently asserting that we are all chained up in our own personal cave, looking at shadows cast by others. In essence, Plato is challenging us to look “into the fire” of new, unfamiliar ideas and perspectives. While it can hurt to hear contradicting ideas, it is important to know the real truth.
Connecting this back to the 2020 election, it is ever more apparent that we are all stuck in our political caves. Whether it be a Democratic cave or a Republican cave, one can not be content with the information they have; one must continually be on the search for new information. In an age of opinion news, it is without a doubt hard to turn the channel when you are hearing what you want to hear. Whether it be Fox News or CNN, many Americans are content with their preferred news network.However, in a world of modern technology, ignorance is a choice. And sadly, many Americans are content with this comfortable ignorance.
Just as staring into the fire was painful, flipping the channel and hearing news from a different perspective will also be painful. Upon hearing this differing view and being confronted with information you thought you knew, you will certainly feel threatened. As a matter of fact, you may feel dumb for believing in something that you once held to be true. Despite these feelings, it is important to remember that life is a struggle of finding justice and truth. And upon hearing this new information and becoming better informed, you have a duty to spread this truth to others who are just as ignorant as you once were.
However, teaching this new information can be just as hard as learning it. Many ignorant people will not listen to you and more still will simply not care. Others will challenge and fight you tooth and nail to protect their beliefs. Nevertheless, everyone has a moral obligation to become educated.
Whether you are voting for President Trump or Vice President Biden, one should not merely tag along and vote for either candidate because of partisan allegiance. With the remaining time left, undecided voters should do their homework, study each candidate, and come to an informed decision. Ignorance has repercussions and in an election with stakes this high, these repercussions can certainly have a damaging effect on the future of the country.
When it comes to any decision, whether it be politics or any other endeavor, one must choose to have an open mind. Limiting yourself to certain points of view is like being chained up in Plato’s cave. You may be content with the information you have, but one must explore life and be in constant search for truth. As Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”.