On My Couch In Platos Cave

I had just sat down to read The Matrix and Philosophy when I realized...there are squirrels on my roof. I can't see them, but I can see their shadows on the lawn as I look out of the window on this sunny morning. I'm reminded of Plato's Cave: the one with the campfire inside and the prisoners beyond that, facing the back wall so that they can never see anything but shadows cast from the fire light. My world view from here on my comfortable leather couch does have its parallels with that ancient scenario. The cave allegory highlights the gap between shadow and substance; appearance and reality. But unlike those prisoners who know of nothing about the world outside of shadows on the wall, I recognize that there probably are squirrels loping along the ridge of my roof. Still, there remains a shadow of doubt in my mind. Maybe it's just a prankster with hand puppets up there (on the roof, not just in my head).

Perception is a three-way affair: It takes an object, an observer, and the medium between them. Let's say I shine a spotlight on your face in the dark. Now I can see color, texture, and facial features (my, what squinty eyes you have) instead of just a dark silhouette where your head has blocked the light on the wall behind you. The angle at which I aim that light beam alters my perception of you. With the light overhead, like natural sunlight, you are easy to look at. But point the light upwards from below your chin in the dark and, whoa - scary! And even in the best light, we lose the details in the distance. In other words: Seeing is not necessarily believing.

Language also conveys "second-hand" views and likewise distorts reality with word play. That's why Plato didn't cotton to poets: too much drama, not enough description: Roses are red, and donuts are...

...(Read the rest of this essay in The Intellectual Handyman On Art, a new book by Gary R. Peterson from iUniverse.)

www.garypetersonart.com/1-7storage/yardsquirrel_smx.jpg