One of the most daunting philosophical questions of all time is why the prisoner chose the bread instead of the key. The puzzle dates back to ancient Greece, when Plutarch, a Greek philosopher, asked his followers this question. The question represents the dilemma between two contrasting values: sustenance and freedom.
The story originates from a fable from classical literature and has been explored in several literary works, including The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King.
This tale is about a prisoner who is locked in a cell with two things: a key and a loaf of bread. The prisoner must choose any of the two, although he wasn’t sure what the key was for or how to use it. After considering all possibilities, the prisoner chose the loaf of bread over the key.
Recently, an X user (formerly Twitter) shared the popular picture of a prisoner with a piece of bread and a key and mentioned that if one can answer the question, they’re a philosopher. This restarted the debate once again on the internet.
There are various explanations to the story, but all of them talk about prioritizing a short-term guarantee over a long-term possibility.
The prisoner chose the bread in the age-old classical fable because he prioritized fulfilling his basic needs of food and nourishment over his hope for freedom. The bread symbolized a guaranteed source of nourishment, while the key represented a distant dream that may or may not come true.
Why The Prisoner Chose the Bread Over the Key
In the fable, the key represents a hope of freedom and a symbol of liberation, while the bread represents a source of physical comfort, survival, and immediate nourishment.
Scholars have provided various explanations to the age-old table, and recent debates have sparked the conversation yet again. One popular explanation suggested by philosophers is that the prisoner developed a sort of Stockholm Syndrome, but not towards a person.
He had grown attached to his captivity, and the idea of freedom was alien to him. He feared a world where he had to deal with everything alone. The idea of liberation could have overwhelmed or intimidated him.
Another reason why the prisoner chose the bread over the key could be a sense of uncertainty. The bread could provide him with immediate nourishment and help him survive. In contrast, the key was simply a first step towards liberation.
There was no guarantee that what awaited him beyond the walls of his cell would be so rewarding. This sense of uncertainty discouraged the prisoner from choosing the key.
Modern interpretations of the philosophical dilemma further suggest that the prisoner chose the loaf of bread as it reminded him of happier times when he was free. It might sound silly, but in real life, many of our decisions are guided by a sense of comfort.
We may choose to watch the same film again despite having multiple other options as we’re moved by the sense of nostalgia and familiarity. We could continue living in our same ancestral house despite having the means to afford a better alternative for a similar sense of familiarity. The same feeling worked for the prisoner, who was reminded of a time when he was free and hence chose the bread.
There are also spiritual and religious interpretations of the story. Many scholars have pointed out that certain cultures consider bread as a sacred food or an offering of God. In Christianity, bread is often associated with Jesus Christ’s last supper before his crucifixion. Therefore, choosing the bread over the key could represent the prisoner’s faith in God and humanity.
What would you have chosen if you were in the prisoner’s situation? Would you go for the bread or the key? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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