Final answer:
Plato's cave is the setting of the allegory in Plato's 'The Republic,' which is a philosophical exploration of knowledge and reality. It is false that the story is about three men discussing justice and the meaning of life in a cave; instead, it depicts prisoners mistaking shadows for reality, until one is freed and learns the truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about Plato's cave being a story about three men withdrawing to meditate about justice and the meaning of life is false. Plato's Allegory of the Cave is a philosophical text that explores the difference between the world of appearances and the world of reality, focusing on the nature of knowledge, truth, and education. The allegory is found in 'The Republic,' primarily in Book VII, where prisoners are chained in a cave and have only ever seen shadows cast on a wall, which they believe to be reality.
One prisoner, who represents the philosopher, eventually escapes and discovers that the shadows are mere reflections of objects illuminated by a higher truth represented by the sun outside the cave. This prisoner returns to enlighten the others but is met with disdain and disbelief since the prisoners are still trapped within the confines of their perception. Plato's Allegory of the Cave serves as a metaphor for the process of enlightenment and the philosopher's role in society, revealing the often difficult transition from ignorance to knowledge.