Reality of the Shadows - Essay Example

s Reality of the Shadows Philosophers are often tempted to find out the hidden meanings behind theapparent reality. On the subject philosophers like Plato have built on his understanding of reality. Much of contemporary philosophy is still being based upon what Plato had left behind. Also, many other themes developed by philosophers can be related to Plato`s vision of reality and form. William Goulding in his essay, ‘Thinking as a Hobby’ assigns three grades to thinkers based on their understanding of the world and their perceptions of truth. The truth in Goulding`s (2004) writings can conveniently be related to the truth in Plato`s work, as the end meaning and the thematic vision is more or less similar in nature. Goulding argues that detachment from the popular perception of reality takes an individual to the grade-one level of thinking, while blindly following the norms would be an attribute of grade-three thinkers. Similarly, in the ‘Allegory of the Cave’, Plato narrates that once a prisoner had been freed, he understands the reality behind the shadows. In this context, it is crucial to understand Goulding`s attribution of grades to the people. His obsession with ‘thinking’ led him to the conclusion that he himself cannot think at all. It was back in school when he observed the statuettes of his headmaster who had asked him, “Don`t you ever think at all?’. He sought inspiration from his teachers to initiate the process of thinking, which seems too complex at the time. He was even more confused when he realized that those who claimed to think themselves exhibited self destructive behavior for instance drinking, or staring at attractive women. These kinds of people are attributed as grade three thinkers, who according to Goulding are “all shouting the same thing, all warming their hands at the fire of their own prejudices”. He then says that grade two thinkers are self-contradictory as he observed in conversation with Ruth who was a Methodist by religion and followed all its ideals blindly. He found the courage to question her beliefs and bluntly ranting them out to her, thus claiming himself to have turned into a grade two thinker. It was when he met the German Professor Einstien who had fled from the Nazis that he claims to have become have understood what grade-one thinkers would be like. These people, quite rare in existence, question the norms and value the truth as opposed to perception and thus, their lives are characterized by wisdom, truth and knowledge. Also, by the end of the essay Goulding Claims that “I dropped my hobby and turned professional” which gives an impactful message that grade one thinkers find very hard to survive in the real world. Goulding`s sense of grade one thinkers can be related to Plato`s idea of truth. In the Allegory of a Cave, Plato narrates a dialogue between his brother Glaucon and his mentor Socrates. The dialogue depicts a story where prisoners are chained to a wall of a cave, where their heads can only see the shadows on the wall. In reality, the people are living behind a fire and carrying stones and other accessories. Since the prisoners have their backs on the real images, they perceive their own versions of realities and connect them to what they see on the wall. One of the prisoners, however, gets free from the chains and is exposed to the real images which were earlier on his back, and thus, the image of reality completely changes. In other words, the free prisoners seek truth in the real image which kills his versions of reality when he was in denial (Corn 1998). The grade-three thinkers in the view of Goulding are also in denial as they have their backs on what is real, and they rather see from the eyes of their baggage and social constructs. Also, the journey from being a grade three thinker to grade one thinker is a gradual one where everything must be questioned in order to find truth. Thus, both Goulding and Plato tend to agree on the point that popular belief isn`t the reality, rather just a false perception. Moreover, both the writings referred here embrace openness and liberation. Goulding begins his essay with the idea that he felt exhausted and uncomfortable with the idea of thinking. He was extremely distressed and perplexed with the contradiction in thinking and performing, as he observed that those who claimed to think did the most bizarre actions in their lives. Thus, as he began questioning what he knew and accepted the fact that he couldn’t think rather than believing what the society wanted him to believe, only then did he exceed to a higher level. Also, to achieve he highest grade he had to break all the social barriers and bear the burden of rather going against the will of the world. Similarly, Plato implies that an individual sees the world through the lens of the social constructs, as he understands everything not with a blank mind rather with an already biased mind. This is the sole reason why it becomes difficult for an individual to seek truth. In order to begin the journey towards truth, one will have to de-construct the constructive ideals and be open to other thoughts and perceptions as well. Once someone has the logical perceptions about all the ideas, no matter how inappropriate it may seem, can one reach his destination towards truth. Thus, Plato and Goulding have managed to find a common ground with their journey towards finding truth. Both have an agreement over the fact that the reality behind the shadows can be completely different from what one may have perceived earlier. Therefore, one must be open to opposing ideas and must serve his life towards finding the true reality behind the what`s apparent against the shadows. In order to become grade-one thinkers, it is crucial to break the chains of the society and free oneself from the prison to see the real image of the world we exist in. Otherwise, one could conveniently fall into the category of grade-three thinkers and live in peace, but in denial. References: Corn, A. "Leroys Allegory of the Cave." Art in America. 86.2 (1998): 96-98. Print. Golding, W, “Thinking as a Hobby.” The Norton Reader, Shorter Eleventh Edition. Ed. Linda H. Peterson and John C. Brereton. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2004. 124-130 Plato, . The Allegory of the Cave. Brea, CA: P & L Publication, 2010. Print. Read More