Monday,
November 18, 2019
Going Deeper
Into The Cave
An informal talk by James with time for questions afterwards.
(Note: This is a new talk for the Athens Meetup Group.) Let's meet at 7.00 pm
for a 7.15 pm start.
What This Talk Is About
This talk with discussion and questions as we go will last about 50 minutes and be divided into 3 main parts as follows:
a) A quick recap of Plato’s famous allegory of the Cave and the ascent of the prisoner – from the dark underground cavern where he has been held captive since childhood. This is a famous Platonic Myth used to represent the human condition. (Plato’s Republic – 514a to 517a)
b) Socrates insistence that after the prisoner has enjoyed his/her new freedom for a while outside of the cave, they should return to the dark Cave and to the other prisoners; and why is so. (Republic-519c/d to 520e)
c) A more open discussion – and questions about the Cave and its importance (if any) for us all today. This short allegory raises so many questions left unanswered in Plato. We will consider some of the deeper implications - such as why people resist the help of the returned prisoner to escape- and how the other prisoners can be encouraged and assisted to leave the Cave both as individuals and societies. What new narratives will be necessary to encourage them to leave - or at least live better?
“IF” we regard philosophy as essentially a practical subject about how to live wisely (rather than purely the discussion of abstract points), then the Allegory of the Cave has important questions for us all to answer – to our own satisfaction at least…….
(If you wish to read / print Plato's relevant text for this talk
in advance it is at: www.socrates4today.blogspot.com/2019/10/text-for-meetup-group-members-for-talk.html )
Some Practical Details About Talk / How to Find Us
The talk lasts about 45 -50 minutes with time for questions afterwards. Meet in the lovely AthenStyle roof terrace bar around 7.00 pm ready for a prompt 7.15 pm start. (When you get to the AthenStyle hotel/hostel go in and ask the reception staff to point you up to the roof terrace bar. When you arrive find James and let him know you are there for the talk.)
In keeping with the Socratic tradition, this ‘meetup’ talk is offered free of charge for people who come along. (Voluntary contributions of 3 – 5 euros afterwards are welcome to help out with the ongoing expenses of putting on talks and other activities. However, there is no pressure to contribute.)
(Perhaps bring a jacket with you in case it gets a little chilly on the enclosed rooftop terrace where the talk is held.)
Other News:
For those of you who read electronic Amazon Kindle eBooks, I thought I would let you know that there is a "free offer" for for my new eBook from Thursday 17th to Monday 21st October 2019 inclusive. You can simply go to: www.amazon.com/dp/B07NK3KPKV and download the Kindle eBook free of charge during those dates if you wish. The title is: LIFE CHOICES - Important Tips from Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. There are chapters on 'Know Yourself', the 'Phaedrus', Aristotle's Practical Philosophy and more...... A paperback is also available for purchase if you prefer - and the "audio" book should be released over Christmas this year.
What This Talk Is About
This talk with discussion and questions as we go will last about 50 minutes and be divided into 3 main parts as follows:
a) A quick recap of Plato’s famous allegory of the Cave and the ascent of the prisoner – from the dark underground cavern where he has been held captive since childhood. This is a famous Platonic Myth used to represent the human condition. (Plato’s Republic – 514a to 517a)
b) Socrates insistence that after the prisoner has enjoyed his/her new freedom for a while outside of the cave, they should return to the dark Cave and to the other prisoners; and why is so. (Republic-519c/d to 520e)
c) A more open discussion – and questions about the Cave and its importance (if any) for us all today. This short allegory raises so many questions left unanswered in Plato. We will consider some of the deeper implications - such as why people resist the help of the returned prisoner to escape- and how the other prisoners can be encouraged and assisted to leave the Cave both as individuals and societies. What new narratives will be necessary to encourage them to leave - or at least live better?
“IF” we regard philosophy as essentially a practical subject about how to live wisely (rather than purely the discussion of abstract points), then the Allegory of the Cave has important questions for us all to answer – to our own satisfaction at least…….
(If you wish to read / print Plato's relevant text for this talk
in advance it is at: www.socrates4today.blogspot.com/2019/10/text-for-meetup-group-members-for-talk.html )
Some Practical Details About Talk / How to Find Us
The talk lasts about 45 -50 minutes with time for questions afterwards. Meet in the lovely AthenStyle roof terrace bar around 7.00 pm ready for a prompt 7.15 pm start. (When you get to the AthenStyle hotel/hostel go in and ask the reception staff to point you up to the roof terrace bar. When you arrive find James and let him know you are there for the talk.)
In keeping with the Socratic tradition, this ‘meetup’ talk is offered free of charge for people who come along. (Voluntary contributions of 3 – 5 euros afterwards are welcome to help out with the ongoing expenses of putting on talks and other activities. However, there is no pressure to contribute.)
(Perhaps bring a jacket with you in case it gets a little chilly on the enclosed rooftop terrace where the talk is held.)
Other News:
For those of you who read electronic Amazon Kindle eBooks, I thought I would let you know that there is a "free offer" for for my new eBook from Thursday 17th to Monday 21st October 2019 inclusive. You can simply go to: www.amazon.com/dp/B07NK3KPKV and download the Kindle eBook free of charge during those dates if you wish. The title is: LIFE CHOICES - Important Tips from Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. There are chapters on 'Know Yourself', the 'Phaedrus', Aristotle's Practical Philosophy and more...... A paperback is also available for purchase if you prefer - and the "audio" book should be released over Christmas this year.
