A visual contemplation on the nature of “Truth”
In a recent Trivia Competition, we were shown the image on the right, with the question “Do you recognise this space?” I thought of places of worship but the floor had me confused. Have a look, do you recognise it? A beautifully designed space that no one could name at first. Can you?It reminded me that we might see (and hear), but no comprehend. We might misinterpret. It reminded me of “Plato’s Cave” and the mystery of truth. Often opinions are formed and held all too strongly around the shadows on the wall rather than trying to get to the “TRUTH”. Truth is one of the three great principles that Freemasonry is founded on. As shown below, we might see facts, but the “truth” can sometimes be hard to see.
Many might recognise the images as a succinct reference to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” appearing in his book The Republic. The Republic (Greek: Πολιτεία, Politeia; Latin: Res Publica) is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning justice (δικαιοσύνη), the order and character of the just city-state, and the just man. It is Plato's best-known work, and has proven to be one of the world's most influential works of philosophy and political theory, both intellectually and historically. Its ideas are still lively discussed and the image to the left gives you the central message in the Cave Allegory. In The Republic, truth has even more levels than those shown in the image on this page.
We often hold onto our facts, what we believe to be True without finding Truth, as the shadows above show.
And one smart cookie did identify the trivia image – it is a photograph of inside the body of a guitar.