Two famous passages in Plato’s republic are commonly known as ‘the divided line’ and ‘the cave’ – they are placed right next to each other, one at the end of book six, and the other at the beginning of book seven. We read and consider both and explore how each enables us to understand the other – how the first is primarily cognitive and the other primarily vivific, and that the two together are particularly suitable for cultivating the soul. For the soul, according to the Platonic tradition, is a life-bearing and knowing being, only able to play its fullest part in the great drama of the cosmos if it combines both elements of its nature.
The two readings are relatively short, and we should have plenty of time to explore some of the implications of them, including the surprise that Socrates springs on his companions with regard to the obligations of enlightenment.
These evenings include short talks and/or readings from Platonic writings – but we hope they will be genuinely interactive, with all participants invited to contribute to our collaborative search for truth. No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.
Admission is free, but we do encourage those who are able to donate £5 in order to cover our costs, either as cash on the day or donating through this website
Most of these evenings are self-contained and every effort is made to make them accessible to the newcomer, while allowing the great profundity of the Platonic tradition to step forward and speak to us at whatever level our present understanding sits. Some of these sessions are coupled together, in order to give us the space to examine more fully particular texts and themes, but even here we will ensure that if those attending have missed the first of the two sessions a recap of what has gone before will help all participants to pick up the main threads of the theme.
Please download the PDF paper we will be drawing from: The divided line and cave
The Trust has run similar activities for some 18 years, and in our experience they allow the most profound questions concerning human life, the nature of reality, and our interactions, to be explored at once both seriously and with good cheer. Our aim is to provide a forum for honest and straight-forward enquiry, but which is unafraid to explore inward-moving paths too often neglected by modern schools of thought.
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