But after the class, i understand that anything can be real. Is just in different way of mind set, they are different way to progress the 'real' object. In the example of plato's allegory of the cave, it show that the prison only see the object shadow and from their mind set they will think that shadow is case by the real object. For example maybe the prisoner saw the shadow on the wall is a cat, they will automatically say that the shadow is a cat shadow. Such prisoners would mistake appearance for reality. But they wont realize what is the true object until they turn their head around and see what it really is. According to Allegory, when the prisoners that escape from the cave and they are shocked in afraid because what they think is real are not. They would think the things they see on the wall (the shadows) were real; they would know nothing of the real causes of the shadows.
They are a lot of cases that happen in our life that are similar to prisoners. Newspaper and entertainment news can transform a simple issues into something big just to make a better sales. For some people that are addicted to Facebook sometimes they will think the thing that share by their friend is real until they find out the truth. Sometime the thing that appear in front of us doesn't means is it truth. The is a sentence that quite similar to this situation "人不可貌相" which means we cannot judge a thing with it's appearance.
Also, and very importantly, Plato distinguishes between appearance and reality. It shows how sometimes what we perceive as real is only just an illusion, such as shadows or dreams. And this is in reference to the next area of philosophy, which is concerned with truth or reality, which is the light source of the plato cave. The person that escaped from the cave and find the light of the sun, the light of true reality, the light that cast all the fuzzy shadow on the wall. And from the light they will find out what is the object that cast the shadow on the wall. They will find out the truth.
Not all newspaper and entertainment news is trying to distort the reality. There are new medias that show the light to the reader or a hints to show the reader what is the truth behind the story or make them to find out the truth. For example the photo below that given a sample for analysis from my lecturer.
As we can see that there are actually both side of image. Each side of image itself can be the fuzzy shadow on the wall in the plato cave because the viewer only see one side of the banner on the wall. But the people who walk over the corner and see the other side of the image the will under what is really happen in the story. And they will start to question themselves what is the truth light of the image and they will start to find out the truth. Inside the image beside fuzzy shadow we can find out the light source as well. For example the tagline "see both sides of the story" is a hint for the viewer to find the light. When people see explosion the didn't know what is happen maybe they will think something was on fire but they don't know what cost the fire. And another side is a soldier standing guarding something but they dont know what is he guarding. Right until they walk around the corner and see the whole banner only know the fire is cause by war and the soldier is preparing for war.
This some funny photo that i think is related to Plato Cave. The man is like the prisoner he only see that beauty of the girl and when the kid was born he only realize that his wife did plastic surgery. but if the man find out the light which is the photo of the girl before she did the surgery what will the man do. He will be curious and start find out who is the person and question her wife to find out the truth. After he find out the truth will he still want to have the baby. But if he act like the prisoner in the plato cave and just believe on the fuzzy shadow which the girl she marry is not the girl in the photo he will be happy and may give a birth after they marry.
The plato cave can apply in many place. So people will like to be the prisoner in the cave to get away from the truth just to be more happy and there are people that want to find out the source of light and the truth behind the fuzzy shadow.
Good point about the news media's ability to distort reality. Can the media also shine light on reality? For example, what if the guy saw a picture of her before surgery the night of their wedding. Would they still have a child?
ReplyDeleteIn the example you gave, the man was fooled not by media though, by actual physical alterations, which might be a kind of 'forgery' more serious than your photoshopped picture.
Try to focus your discussion, elaborate on a topic before jumping off to another. In conversations, that happens a lot, but in the written word, we can expand on the matter the issue to give it more description, analyse its strength and weakness.
http://www.motivators.com/images/blogimages/alot-more-than-promos/BBC01.jpg
this might have been a more relevant image for discussion.
Another thread was to understand what Plato says is the 'Ultimate Reality' , or the light. He is to the West what Confucius and Lao Tze is to us in the East. Philosophers who find the truth via ideas and discussions of ideas.
i will try to refine the blogs as soon as possible.
DeleteBase on your comment i had refine the post and add the image you given as a analysis. Thx for your comment.
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