The Shadows are Real

Not the most humble of titles I admit. Pointing out a thought error in someone, who many consider the greatest thinker of all time might give the impression of an inflamed ego. My intention is not to drag the dead philosopher through muck though. I only wish to point out a flaw in his thought. A flaw that still echoes through the collective consciousness to this day.

This erroneous thought takes place in Plato "Allegory of the Cave" which is one of if not the most succinct explanations of a metaphysical world. Now some will say hogwash to any notions of metaphysics. That there is nothing outside of physical matter. That talk of a realm where things are not composed of atoms is delusional.

Maybe. But if there is a nonmaterial world of pure forms then Plato's allegory is right up there with "The Matrix" as an accessable a parable to explain it. That's said like all things in this physical realm it is at best a flawed representation of the ideal. I think Plato would have to at least concede this critique.

It is not the premise of the story itself I have a problem with, but the implication of the story itsef. I will also say my observation is obvious. There is nothing special about pointing it out. Many people would no doubt notice such an error if I or some other lesser philosopher made it.

Before I get to my grievence, I'll recap the "Allegory of the Cave" for anyone not familiar with it.

A bunch of prisoners are chained inside a cave. They have been there since their birth. It's dark in the cave. There isn't much to do but look at the images that flash on a wall. What they don’t know is that all these images they spend their life being entertained by are only shadows. Behind them is a fire. Other people walk between the prisoners and the fire making these shadow that the prisoner mistake for reality.

One day a prisoner escapes and ventures outside. At first, he is disoriented as the light outside the cave is too bright. As his eyes adjust to the outside world he sees objects for the first time. He takes in more and more of this new reality till he finally sets his gaze on the sun, seeing the source of all creation.

Newly enlightened he decides to go back into the cave to share his newfound truth with the rest of the prisoners. As he enters the cave his eyes are no longer suited for the dark. He stumbles and can no longer make sense of the shadows on the wall. In a disorientated state he starts talking about the outside world. Being so out of step with everyone his cave-mates think he scrambled his brain exploring the outer world. Rather than inspiring an exodus out of the cave, everyone doubles down on not leaving.

What gets lost in the story is that the shadows are real for the prisoners. Just because there is a higher reality does not negate the reality of the "shadow". It's noble that the newly enlightened prisoner wants to share what he learned, with the other prisoners. They would benefit from this knowledge. But in trying to pass the torch of wisdom, he as many teachers do, forgets his own path.

He demands faith from his fellow prisoners despite his path being one of experience. He attained enlightenment by witnessing reality outside the cave, not because some previous master told him stories. He should have taken the time to reorient himself to the cave, to be humbled by the darkness, rather than blather on about unseen realities. It should be noted I am guilty of such things.

True enlightenment is too much for one consciousness to contain. It needs to be shared or it will drive the bearer of it mad. One can't simply recite their experience to spread their enlightenment. Nor can one find any real enlightenment by merely listening to others tell their truth. Enlightenment must be earned through experience or we all be enlightened.

Our world is in many ways the cave. Our shadows are money, governments, safety, status, language, and so on. It is not uncommon for someone to be lifted out of the Matrix being shown that everything we hold to be true is an illusion. And it's all too common that such people are seen as mad by those around them who are dependent on such illusions.

Like our heroes in Plato's "Allegory", these enlighted fools have not taken the time to articulate the new reality they perceive in terms of the old reality that people understand. The work is in retaining enlightmen while going back in the dark, where it's needed. Forgoing this process will result in the rabble thinking of you as crazy

time and time again.

Plato should know as much as anyone that our lives are but shadows of our stories. Whatever flaws are in them will be mirrored in our lives. How much different would the last 2000+ years be if Plato, instead of telling the tale of an enlightened but failed teacher, extended the allegory to include our enlightened hero learning how to reach the masses?

Maybe this was beyond what Plato could do. The powers that be, suicided his teacher Socrates after all. He could have written this story as a way of expressing frustrations with the common people. It's just as possible he seeded this story in his culture to lead those who were enlightened down dead ends. Ultimately I don't know what his motivation was. Either way enlightenment without wisdom is disastrous for all involved.