The cave is quite the sensation
For those intent on the provocation,
Your concept of Truth
Might to me be uncouth,
But whose absolute sways the nation?
Plato’s “True World” outside the cave is equivalent to Latour’s concept of Science (the politicization of the sciences through epistemology in order to render ordinary political life impotent through the threat of an incontestable nature.) Latour calls out the obvious problem with the cave allegory: the very existence of an inviolable, incontrovertible Truth. “Because, without [the division], there would be no more reservoir of incontrovertible certainties that could be brought in to put an end to the incessant chatter of obscurantism and ignorance. There would no longer be a sure way to distinguish what is true from what is false. One could no longer break free of social determiners to understand what things themselves are…”
Educators have to be wary of absolute truth being dangled in front of them. There are few ideas more seductive than those of absolutes. Everyone wants assurances that they are right and that their way is the right way. We all think that we are the enlightened ones, obligated to return to the cave out of a selfless sensibility—but no one knows anything for certain.
I agree with almost everything you said here; the one exception is that I think Plato DID believe he knew what that Truth was: the form of the good and the other forms. We may have trouble fully understanding them, and they may be ideals we can only approach and never fully grasp, but I think he did really believe that these were true things (it may seem like he doesn't identify them because the idea of these God-like truths is so wacky and vague to us).
ReplyDeleteI like how you've qualified your posting with "truthiness." Well done! Your comment about the temptation we experience when considering absolutes is very true. Maybe this is why Plato limited his list of absolutes as Ruthie mentions. Too often, authorities espouse too many ideas as being absolutely true. Contending with a lack of assurances about right or wrong is part of learning, and certainly life.
ReplyDelete