10 Dec '05 07:25>
I'm guessing most of you have read this. For those that haven't, you can find it in "The Republic" (by Plato). Here's what I find controversial:
It is stated that it is better for people to see what is actually causing the shadows. Yet, we have Plato saying of the prisoners who eventually see the true "light" (the sun):
“If they could lay hands on the man who was trying to set them free and lead them up, they would kill him.”
However, once they see the "light" and learn about the shadows, they supposedly are better for it, because now they know the "real" truth, as opposed to the truth which they considered to be real before they were shown the true "light".
Here's my point. Everywhere that I have read about this work (in various books that analyze this piece), it is shown that learning the "real" truth is always positive; the best course of action; the right thing to do. You get the picture.
But is it really? Are people happier once they learn the "truth", or are they happier with just going through life knowing their own "truth"? If they never learned about the "real" truth, would they be happier than if they DID learn about it later in life? Why is it that everywhere I read about this, it is always implied that people are happier and live more content lives once they learn that the shadows are just shadows (which people make) and nothing more? Who is to discern whether or not they lead healthier, happier lives than those that never learn about the "real" truth?
It is stated that it is better for people to see what is actually causing the shadows. Yet, we have Plato saying of the prisoners who eventually see the true "light" (the sun):
“If they could lay hands on the man who was trying to set them free and lead them up, they would kill him.”
However, once they see the "light" and learn about the shadows, they supposedly are better for it, because now they know the "real" truth, as opposed to the truth which they considered to be real before they were shown the true "light".
Here's my point. Everywhere that I have read about this work (in various books that analyze this piece), it is shown that learning the "real" truth is always positive; the best course of action; the right thing to do. You get the picture.
But is it really? Are people happier once they learn the "truth", or are they happier with just going through life knowing their own "truth"? If they never learned about the "real" truth, would they be happier than if they DID learn about it later in life? Why is it that everywhere I read about this, it is always implied that people are happier and live more content lives once they learn that the shadows are just shadows (which people make) and nothing more? Who is to discern whether or not they lead healthier, happier lives than those that never learn about the "real" truth?