Plato's allegory of the cave continues to be relevant. Many people today are voicing their opinions regarding society's need to leave the metaphorical darkness, or cave, of ignorance in order to move toward the light of awareness and truth. The difficult element of this matter, however, is that modern-day truths appear to be debatable, just as the modern definitions of ignorance have also taken on a subjective tone.

For example, most people in the scientific community argue that climate change is a reality, but there is still an outspoken group of people who are missing vital leading steps to accept this truth or "light." As another example, many people argue about when an individual life actually begins—since this question can't really be empirically settled, it is a source of ideological contention between pro-choice and pro-life groups. Additionally, the very concept of empirical truth itself can be complicated by perception.

Though the allegory of the cave does explain an essential human trait—that of aspiring to go beyond our narrow personal experience in search of a greater truth—it does not explain how exactly we should go about differentiating between light and darkness. For that, we must explore other teachings, also by Plato perhaps, as well as other philosophers whose work can apply to contemporary issues.

I've always appreciated Plato's concept of justice.  It is not to be decided by the few or the strong, and it is always good for the whole.  Our system of justice falls short, sometimes, but it does strive to follow Plato's concept.

I think Plato's biggest legacy that he has left us with is his idea of democracy and government. Although, as #2 identifies, the government we are lumbered with today is not exactly the same, really Plato can be seen arguably as the "father" of democracy in his outline for society and the way it should be run.

The idea of whether or not there is a transcendental notion of the good to which we should aspire is a powerful concept.  On one level, Plato's discussion of the "forms" and the "ideals" to which all human endeavor should be geared can pull someone to aspire to the highest of goods.  Yet, at the same time, this can be manipulated by those who wish to consolidate their own power and eliminate other notions of the good.  Hence, the reality is that in order to prevent some type of force from coopting the public good through the invocation of the "forms," a settling for diversity and divergent paths that might not lead to these forms may result.  I think that it is really interesting to put Platonic thought in the modern setting with all that has been experienced in terms of singular pursuits of what had been called "the forms," which was actually far from it.

One of Plato's ideas that I find of particular relevance today is the role of the father and son. He seemed to insinuate that the son's life success is dependent...