Kantian Philosophy

John Ho

Preliminary Draft

The Nature of the Soul

The life of prisoners is no different than the life of many ordinary individuals. People are born inside the cave. Prisoners live their life without the need of making important choices for themselves, for the choices do not present to them, or the choices are not available for them. The choices are limited to conforming themselves to the rules of the prison and to survive in such environment. The received opportunity of improving one's quality of life is very unlikely to be granted to prisoners. Most of the time in any given day, they are locked inside the cell by themselves or with some other fellow prisoners. The only time for them to leave their cells is when the guards unlock the cells.

Our souls are no different than the life of those prisoners. Human souls are caught up with the immediate sensual gratifications. The necessity of gratifying one's urge

The guards are the only people having the key to let them come out from the cells.

remain inside the cell Staying inside the cell A daily activity for them is

are very unlikely to be granted It is very unlikely (i.e., protect their life.

As Plato commends about the nature of human being is like the life of being prisoners. Prisoners do not have much right to make choices like the people outside the prison. Prisoners are chained and constantly being watched by the guard. The guard is the only person who can set the prisoner free. The chain can be represented of the symbol of bodily pleasures and sensations with which each person was born.

with . The only way for the prisoners to unchain themselves and