Life’s Heart Beat: The theory of Balance

Life mimics a heartbeat or vice versa. Life is a constant struggle for balance in your life. Much like in Plato’s stories life consist of up and downs, whether it be your trip toward knowledge or your eventual return to inform others. One’s heartbeat is a great indicator of their health, intention, and even mood. Is this an accident? I think not Plato too understood this but it is often overlooked because of its statement on the path towards knowledge and later leadership role one must take once enlightened. His stories often involve a once certain person being shown flaw in their reason however Plato admits that even he does not know all of the answers only the path and he asked others to help him on his quest for understanding.  I think Plato would say, knowledge is the key to immortality but it is only with good will and guiding others that it can be attained. Your heartbeat like life, through the ups and downs toward your path to knowledge will not end until the rhythmic beating flat lines.

Diotima

Diotima values the reproduction of ideas more so than the reproduction of body because ideas last longer and to him are more valuable than individuals.  By using this logic to explain the difference between Common Love and Heavenly love, Diotima expresses her respect for intellectual fulfillment rather than sexual.  Diotima believes we all have a love for beautiful things and a good that we wish to have forever. This drive for immortality is what causes one to be willing to die for their lover because they know that this heroism would immortalize them. She believes this too is why we reproduce in hopes of continuing our legacy or life through our children. While Diotima attempts to teach Alcibiades I do not believe her words word heard. Although I do not think Alcibiades was actually drunk I do think the act was a way of showing that he was not taking her words serious although there were many excellent points she made. By going last I feel like she was able to mold together the ideas of others along with her own in order to come up with what she thought was the ultimate definition of love.

Philosophy in Batman:The Dark Knight Rises

In the Dark Knight Rises, a great addition to the illustrious legacy of the Batman series, Bane says “I didn’t see the light until I was already a man and by then it was nothing to me but blinding” I think this is a quote that applies to a big part of philosophy that is rarely addressed. In Philosophy we write and reason to address issues for the good of mankind. While philosophers continue to question and come up with their own answers they rarely remember whom they are speaking to. When addressing grown men you are often speaking those who have been in the dark so long that your truth is nothing but blinding to them. I believe this is why a younger generation has begun to takeover the business world because they understand how they world works and are still willing to learn and listen while older people tend to be confined to routine and familiarity.  Although age brings wisdom there is something to be said for the imaginative and persistent nature young “dreamers” often posses. The most powerful organizations have proven to be those, which have a balance of elderly wisdom and youthful ingenuity. This process if molded and specified could lead to huge improvements in both the government and society as a whole. Although Bane may not have meant this with his statement the resounding tone of it brings forth a certain tinge of deeper meaning.

The Allegory of the Cave

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave was and still is one of the descriptions for society and what it does to people. By being able to think of himself as separate of his society and upbringing he was able to reason a great example of what mankind does within it’s societies. The most impress part of it all is the use of language and knowledge of people that Plato brings. With a rhythmic storytelling format Plato was able to use people’s tendencies to help explain to them why they are the way they are and think the way they think. Plato thought that many problems and issues, which we face, are a product of our own lack of knowledge and this is something I completely agree with. Plato is able to captivate an audience while informing them which is something that philosophy before him and after him seems to lack. Philosophers are able to give theories on changing mankind but are not able to make these important resolutions to issues heard or put into action. Plato says in The Allegory of the Cave that after learning of what is outside the cave one must go back and inform others but this seems to have been forgotten. Men and women are more worried about debating with their peers than any real world application and this is the aspect of philosophy that makes it so essential. People need to revisit The Allegory of the Cave and really think about what Plato means and not just parrot off their knowledge of his thoughts. Philosophers are the educators of the mind, caretakers of the soul and artistically inventive thinkers who should remember the most important part of what they do, is that it is for the advancing of mankind not simply for vigorous intellectual debate.

Egoism in Philosophy

Throughout time history has been jam-packed with people and their huge egos whether it be the ones doing the act or those recording it. It can be found in the youngest children and oldest living egoism seems to be apart of the human culture. Even when attempting to solve the most important questions for mankind and the sanctity of their souls. Philosophers went from inquiring minds to headstrong politic-like competitors determined to verify their views that they knew without a doubt to be true. How are many of the philosophers of the day any different from those once humbled by Socrates?

As products of our environments one of the hardest things for one to do is to think from a point of view that is in no way shape or form prejudiced to any idea or thought. Because of this those few who have been able to even attempt such a feat have been honored and respected for their wisdom and ability to understand the specifics of situations. Because of this like most the greats of any aspect of life we have begun to allow these great people to become egoistical and hollow in their knowledge. Many have become so focused on explaining why they were correct they seem to lack a point or purpose.

While reasoning through such incredibly important thoughts do take a certain kind of courage it should not to be turned into arrogance. Arrogance can often be felt through the text and thus can be off-putting to readers and lose the opportunity to teach them because of the overall tone of the information. I am not saying that we should all be free of any kind of ego because that would be idealistic and could be detrimental. By getting rid of all ego the cockiness it takes to go somewhere no was has ever gone would not exist however there is an extent to which everything should be taken. Like many things in life I believe there is a certain balance needed in philosophy, ego, and life in general.