Friday, July 29, 2011

What reality were you raised in?

In Republic VII, Socrates attempts to explain what the form of the good or “reality” is. Socrates believes that to be a true philosopher who rules, knowing and understanding the form of the good is essential since it will result in happiness. Although he admits to not knowing exactly what the form of the good is, in exchange he uses the sun as a metaphor to show a clear form of good.
Imagine a deep, wide, dark cave under the ground where humans live with a long entrance as wide as the cave that leads the way outside where there is light. Furthermore, imagine that the cave is all these people know about because they have been living there since childhood, chained to the ground facing only one direction, unable to move their necks. They are prisoners. Picture also a burning fire behind these chained prisoners held at a high level reflecting a shadow on a massive screen held in front of them. Between the fire and the imprisoned stands a big wall which is lower than where the fire stands but higher than the prisoners. This wall between the fire and the prisoners is similar to a stand seen at a puppet show. Now that the image of the screen, the location of the prisoners, the stand behind the prisoners, and the fire held at a high level behind the stand is clear, imagine people behind the stand holding objects and statues made of rocks, leaves, and wood in the shape of people and animals which are being projected onto the screen in front of the chained prisoners. Along with the shadow of these images, the people carrying these images are making sounds to go with the shadows at necessary times and the prisoners are awarded for recognizing the shapes, the noises and their order.
The only things that these chained prisoners have been exposed to is the cave, each other, and shadows with noise, thus this becomes their reality. They believe in what they see and do not know any better. Now imagine if suddenly one of the prisoners was by force pulled out of the cave and taken outside where there is light. As we could imagine the prisoner’s eyes would be in excruciating pain because of the brightness of the sun. After some moments of disbelief, the prisoner’s eyes would adjust and he would see real animals, plants, and mountains he has only seen shadows of and learns to distinguish appearances from reality. Presumably he would notice the sun and realize that it is the sun that is responsible for the changes of the seasons. It is the sun that enables us to see the world, that makes the earth grow, and that governs everything. He would work out that it is the sun that is responsible for all. He has been exposed to the real world and realizes that he has been living a lie. At this point the man finds himself happy and feels pity for those still in the dark cave. He decides to go back to the cave and enlighten the rest with his discovery putting his life at risk to be taken as a result of the possible disbelief of the others who more than likely would want to remain in their perpetual ignorance. Here, the sun represents the ultimate truth many are ignorant to.
The allegory of the cave is the world we live in today; the world is our cave. The region that is revealed by sight is the prison dwelling. The light of the fire inside the dwelling is the power of the sun. The light of the fire is being used to cast these images and controls the limit of our knowledge. The shadow makers represent the opinions makers, or the people that make us look at the world in the ways that we do. They are the politicians, religious leaders, and teachers telling you what god to believe in, which corporations to trust, the news that is credible, etc. Even our parents, whom we naturally look up to, teach us their version of morality. As children we are born into religious practices, laws, and traditions that we are taught not to question as they are put in front of us at schools, churches, and through the word of our parents as the truth, as the “good”. We are surrounded by things that we cannot explain every minute, and everyday and these very things control our lives. As we get older we adapt to these practices and laws and start to believe that they are correct. The modern screens of the cave are movie theaters and television. Subconsciously, messages are drilled in our heads subliminally and these are the shadows that we follow as the truth. Through propaganda & the modern screen, the media attempts to manipulate our minds about who the good and the bad people are and give us misleading information about different cultures and different countries resulting in people hating other people for no other reason than the “shadow” of truth; and yet, we believe our ignorance to be the good. With prejudices that perpetuate fear and ignorance delivered with a dose of superiority which gives most an opportunity to separate people from the knowledge of the shadow before even really being aware of the truth alleviate an obligatory compulsion to correct it. People then use prejudices that perpetuate fear and ignorance to mask their own. This prejudice is delivered with a dose of unfounded superiority which gives most an opportunity to separate them from the impending knowledge of the existence of the “shadow” before even really being aware of the truth, and thus alleviating an obligatory compulsion to correct it.
Not only are our minds, actions, and beliefs controlled and exploited, but some courageous individuals are even destroyed if they start to question life and seek the truth. Recall the cave allegory and the escaping prisoner who feels pity for his fellow prisoners. Suppose he were to go back and try to tell the others of his discovery. As he enters the cave he is blinded, for he cannot see anything in the pitch black cave. He can see that his vision is just altered and dimmed, not gone. As he tries to explain to the prisoners about the sun and the real world, the prisoners laugh and think that their fellow prisoner has gone mad. The men making these shadows and oppressing these prisoners may also see the prisoner who has returned as a threat to the life in the cave they have created because alternative modes of thought cast doubts on those existing and shake up core beliefs causing one to question existence and purpose. This is symbolic of people such as philosophers who seek the truth, find it, and try to enlighten others. The task of sharing the truth and ultimate knowledge can be exhausting because the ignorant may be in disbelief and will not be interested, for to believe, to be interested would mean that their lives have been totally pointless; most people are not ready for this revelation. This noble task becomes impossible when the people in power realize the danger in the act of the philosopher and try to put an end to his actions to save ignorance and thus their grip on power. Religious leaders like Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, all have been threats to the power structure that must continue to make people believe that the shadows are the good, the truth. When someone comes and says, “it’s not true” they are derided, imprisoned, and even killed. In Buddhism there is the tradition of the Bodhisattva, one who decides to forego his own nirvana so that he can help others “see the light.” Indeed, nirvana means literally, “blowing out the light.” If there is no light in the cave, there is no way to confuse people, for they can not see the shadows anymore, they can not watch the news programs.
But when we look closer we can see that we are in fact means of these productions we allow to control us. We are exploited and give up our life force when we become passive consumers. As Morpheus in The Matrix says, we are in a prison that we cannot see, smell or touch; “The world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you form the truth”…. “A prison for your mind” (The Matrix). The recognition of the limit of our knowledge seems to be foundational for beginning to remedy that condition. To paraphrase Morpheus again, this thing that is wrong with the world is like a splinter in the mind that drives one crazy. The life one believes they have led is not the totality of what is possible for them and releasing self from bonds one cannot see enables the truth to finally be visible and realized.
It is rather interesting that Plato gave this allegory of the cave over two thousand years ago and still it holds true in the 20th century. Many people are not ready to step out of their false reality (cave) as they are hopelessly dependent on the system (men reflecting objects, the fire, the 50 inch wide screen) and will fight, sometimes themselves, to protect it. In a way we must become aware of the blind submission that is required by authority by any means necessary. As I study the cave allegory more deeply, I cannot help but put myself in the position of the captive men. I think anyone in this position has a choice to make as each of us in this world does. One would have the choice of ignoring the truth and continuing to live as he has been told, seek the truth and enlighten others, or find the truth and take advantage to empower the rest. Personally I would choose to risk my life and enlighten others as I would hope many others would do. I would imagine this path to be a lonely and frustrating path to live for many people are trapped in their ways, brainwashed by the materialistic world, and have no idea of the large percentage of their lives that is in the hands of our psychological masters.
“If man neglects education he walks lame to the end of his life” -Plato

Friday, July 15, 2011

Volume

All of a sudden it’s loud.
This noise,
is constantly around.
When I'm driving, working, jogging, eating.
Yes,
it’s the quietness that’s loud
yes It’s, the loneliness without you, that’s piercing with sound.
This emptiness is so intense.
My eyes locked on the door,
I see you walking in
With that smile I fell in love with.
Your glare calms me, I give in.
All of a sudden it’s loud
Dark clouds replace your smile.
Rain starts to fall down.
I close my eyes,
Your body next to mine
Every second cherished.
Your energy SO divine.
I open my eyes
Your presence replaced by empty winds
Thoughts of you pinch the corner of my heart
Feeling of bareness
This loud noise is slowly tarring me apart.
These thoughts are slowly taking over my mind.
My body goes numb.
Pleasuring pain in my stomach
As you brush my hair away from my face.
Tightly holding my waste.
Gently pushing your soft lips against mine.
The reality of emptiness,
Of this quietness and painfulness,
it has become unbearable.
yes, It’s the quietness that’s loud.
it’s the loneliness without you, that’s piercing with sound.
This emptiness is so intense.
I grasp for air
You don’t love me anymore
I know this