Ask not what you can do with philosophy, but what philosophy can do with you! In this episode, I discuss life from Plato's Cave from a philosophical perspective with Johannes Niederhauser. We discuss, among other things, Heidegger's Essay Plato's Doctrine of Truth.
A superficial reading of Plato's Cave might suggest that there are two worlds, and that the truth is something out there to be found like an island out in the ocean (or like a sun-drenched paradise outside the cave). But is that really the case? Heidegger puts forward a radically different interpretation than the two-world theory of Plato's Cave. Truth is not about whether something is correct, but rather about the degree to which it un-hides or reveals what is hidden. Truth happens because we participate in it, and this is not a one-time event but a path we travel over and over again. Also, we better not rush but take the time at each stage to let it reveal itself to us.
What's YOUR interpretation of Plato's allegory? I would love to hear! Leave me a voicemail. It's really easy. You click the record button, speak, and hit send. I might play your message in a future episode and respond.
Support me through patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lifefromplatoscave
Enjoy!
Mario
About Johannes Niederhauser
Johannes is the founder of the Halkyon Thinkers' Guild (https://www.halkyonguild.org/), created the youtube channel Classical Philosophy (https://www.youtube.com/c/ClassicalPhilosophy). Johannes' book "Heidegger on Death and Being" is available here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-51375-7.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohannesAchill
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/classical.philosophy/
Here are references to some of the sources that came up in our conversation:
- Heidegger (1953), The Fundamental Question of Metaphysics (https://stjuphilosophyreadinggroup.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/fundamental-question-of-metaphysics-the.pdf)
- Johannes reading Plato's Cave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn0OaSWLYpk
- E.M. Foster (1909),The Machine Stops (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops). Johannes reads and discusses it in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uioIJK0INc
- Heidegger wrote a short essay on Plato's Cave called "Plato's Doctrine of Truth" which is recommended if you have never read anything by him (http://artsingames.free.fr/Heidegger,%20Martin%20-%20Plato's%20Doctrine%20of%20Truth.pdf). The longer version of this is the book The Essence of Truth (https://www.amazon.com/Essence-Truth-Theaetetus-Bloomsbury-Revelations/dp/147252571X)
- The other philosophers Johannes mentions are Georg Hegel, Immanuel Kant and Jean Beaudrillard
Here's how to contact me if you have any questions or comments:
Website: http://www.lifefromplatoscave.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lifeplatoscave
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lifefromplatoscave/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifefromplatoscave
Illustration © by Julien Penning, Light One Art: https://www.instagram.com/light_one_art/
Hoe Plato je uit je grot sleurt boektrailer (Dutch)
Episode 44 - World-Changing Organisms with Stephen Porder
Episode 43 - Intergenerational Trauma with Inez Schelfhout
Episode 42 - The Soul's Task on Earth with Dorita Sleur
Episode 41 - Climate Biology with Fabian Ercan
Episode 40 - The Climate Health Crisis with Margarita Vossen
Episode 39 - On Disinformation with Lee McIntyre
Episode 38B - Money Creation with Anne Kervers (Part 2)
Episode 38A - How to Block a Freeway with Anne Kervers (Part 1)
Episode 37 - Technics and Time (Stiegler) with Daniel Ross
Episode 36 - The Natural Contract (Serres) with Aldo Houterman
Episode 35 - Rights of Nature with Jessica den Outer
Episode 34 - Universities in the Climate Crisis with Aaron Thierry
Episode 33 - Environmental Philosophy with Yogi Hendlin
Episode 32 - Climate Science Rebellion with Ernst-Jan Kuiper
Episode 31 - How to Talk to a Science Denier with Lee McIntyre
Episode 30 - Henri Bergson’s Philosophy with Jeanne Proust
Episode 29 - Philosophy of Science with Rani Lill Anjum
Episode 28 - Medical Education with Lara Varpio
Episode 27 - Michel Serres’ Philosophy with Aldo Houterman
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
강유원의 책담화冊談話
The Art of Manliness
The Gray Area with Sean Illing
Conversations With Coleman
The Lila Rose Podcast