Thinking Outside the Box

In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" and Sartre's "No Exit" play you are able to see the limitations of our thinking. Plato shows how people are narrow-minded because they aren't able to expand their knowledge/opinions as an effect of the society's criticism. In the play "No Exit" Sartre mixes three people's brain processes into each others minds and sets them up in a way that their thoughts would have a great impact on each other.

The men in the cave were oblivious to the chains they had been put in and didn't bother opposing anything that they already "knew". They had to keep their minds conservative and didn't allow themselves to develop a character.  Everything that seemed to be the reality to them was all an allusion which served its purpose of keeping them from thinking for themselves. Each man that was in a cave had their thinking set with restrictions, so they had to filter out anything that was personal (if there were any of those thoughts in their minds) and stick with what they were always told. They were blind to their surroundings and even though they could speak they ultimately couldn't have real thoughts and feelings.

The three people in hell are condemned to have to listen to other's thoughts and aren't able to rely on only themselves. Every move one makes affects the other. They are all just as vulnerable and reliable of each other. When one person had a mental breakdown they all did because in their world they  all had one mind, one body, one brain. Other people cause and influence many of the decisions that others take and limit them to only a certain amount of options. Rarely are they asked for their opinions on situations instead people set ultimatums for each other to make sure that everything goes according to their plans.

The solution I would suggest is to keep a more open mind to what others have to say but avoid thinking that everything they say is correct. Find many sources which you can compare these "facts" with. Instead of only believing that what you say is and will always be right give an opportunity for those who think otherwise to prove their points to you. It will always be evident to you when something you hear doesn't concur with your views, but makes sense.

Plato and Sartre were two different men that wrote about people's limitations on thinking, using different styles. They both suggest that people are being cheated of their own thoughts and rights. In order to better the chances of reducing such problems, people must try to understand others but keep in mind that not everything they hear is reality.