Sorry to do this philosophers, but grab that U-Haul 'cos this blog has now moved to www.PlatosCaveAlumni.wordpress.com
The reason for the move is not a problem with blogger, which I still use to host my other blogs, but a desire to try out all wordpress' features. I hope to see you there!
Sunday 5 September 2010
Tuesday 20 July 2010
What Would You Rather Be: a Pig Satisfied or Socrates Disatisfied?
(If You don't know who Socrates, where've you been all your life? Look him up, it'll change the world!)
The word 'pig' generally has negative connotations such as ignorance, therefore it doesn't immediately sound like an attractive choice. Also, the chance to be Socrates, a philosophical genius, in any situation, takes some beating. However, the saying 'ignorance is bliss' appears to be true for the pig (and many humans) - I think that what it comes down to is whether you value ignorant satisfaction over the ability and desire for intellectual stimulation.
The aim of most lives, in some way or another, is to strive for long-lasting satisfaction. This can be attained in many ways and is usually unique to the individual. Now, passing over the very debatable question of whether the pig can actually feel satisfied (unless we're talking about human pigs, such as Osama Bin Laden, when the question turns to whether they deserve to) and assuming that it can be satisfied, then, for many people, the pig has achieved a lifelong goal. Still, a satisfaction built on ignorance may not be a very long-lasting one as foundations of ignorance are often easily toppled by unwanted truths and the surfacing of reality. Also, I don't think an ignorant satisfaction is one I particularly want to feel. I do not believe it to be an immoral kind of satisfaction, like feeling satisfied in getting a cheap price for items you know were made by children in impoverished countries, but nevertheless, the ignorant satisfaction would be built upon a narrow exclusive view of the world, which does not sound appealing to me.
So, after ruling out the ignorant pig, that leaves me with Socrates. Now Socrates may start in a dissatisfied state, but, because he has the ability to correctly reason and to the the world with far less blinkers than the pig, he has the potential to be truly satisfied. That, I believe, is the real crux of the problem, therefore i would choose Socrates every time.
The word 'pig' generally has negative connotations such as ignorance, therefore it doesn't immediately sound like an attractive choice. Also, the chance to be Socrates, a philosophical genius, in any situation, takes some beating. However, the saying 'ignorance is bliss' appears to be true for the pig (and many humans) - I think that what it comes down to is whether you value ignorant satisfaction over the ability and desire for intellectual stimulation.
The aim of most lives, in some way or another, is to strive for long-lasting satisfaction. This can be attained in many ways and is usually unique to the individual. Now, passing over the very debatable question of whether the pig can actually feel satisfied (unless we're talking about human pigs, such as Osama Bin Laden, when the question turns to whether they deserve to) and assuming that it can be satisfied, then, for many people, the pig has achieved a lifelong goal. Still, a satisfaction built on ignorance may not be a very long-lasting one as foundations of ignorance are often easily toppled by unwanted truths and the surfacing of reality. Also, I don't think an ignorant satisfaction is one I particularly want to feel. I do not believe it to be an immoral kind of satisfaction, like feeling satisfied in getting a cheap price for items you know were made by children in impoverished countries, but nevertheless, the ignorant satisfaction would be built upon a narrow exclusive view of the world, which does not sound appealing to me.
So, after ruling out the ignorant pig, that leaves me with Socrates. Now Socrates may start in a dissatisfied state, but, because he has the ability to correctly reason and to the the world with far less blinkers than the pig, he has the potential to be truly satisfied. That, I believe, is the real crux of the problem, therefore i would choose Socrates every time.
Friday 18 June 2010
A Real Plato's Cave Alumni
Ever heard of Plato's Cave? If you haven't well, this philosophical dude called Plato came up with an analogy that basically said that what humanity thought was reality was really shaddows on a cave wall that they were trapped in. Eventually one of the trapped broke free and staggered into the light of the real world, out of the cave. The closest modern example to this has to be 'The Matrix', which, apart from being a great film, is based upon Plato's Cave. With me so far?
So, I have decided that after doing to whole years of proper philosophy with Ms Kelly, I am now enlightened enough to have broken free of the cave - making me a Plato's cave Alumni. Now I have at least one more year of philosophy and ethics left, so I intend to post all of my philosophical essays here to intrigue you and hopefully start a few debates going. Happy thinking!
So, I have decided that after doing to whole years of proper philosophy with Ms Kelly, I am now enlightened enough to have broken free of the cave - making me a Plato's cave Alumni. Now I have at least one more year of philosophy and ethics left, so I intend to post all of my philosophical essays here to intrigue you and hopefully start a few debates going. Happy thinking!
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