Plato and I

The last line of my last post has been bugging me.

I have no insight to offer.

Insight is the doing of wisdom. The word seems to come from the Platonic understanding of the universe wherein what we perceive is just the shadow of the true world thrown on the cave wall. To see past the facade, into the true nature of the thing. "Penetrating vision or discernment," says Dictionary.com. To imply that vision is penetrating is to imply that there is something to penetrate.

I have to insight to offer = I cannot see past the facade, I cannot see into the true nature of thing, my vision cannot penetrate.

My vision has never been more than adequate anyway.

The highest praise I have ever received on an essay was that I offered rare insight into the subject matter. That's right! I did not simply demonstrate proficiency in the content area, I saw into the truth of the subject. I pushed past the superficial and observed the deep, complicated truth of the subject.

And now I have no insight to offer.

Look. I am no Platonist. Not that I've read enough Plato to even fully comprehend what that means. I do not believe that beneath the surface of our perceived reality lies a more true reality. I do not believe that I am immobilized and chained to a wall observing the shadows cast by the real world behind me.

I am of the opinion that truth should come free of a capital 't'. I think that, while absolutes exist, shades of gray predominate.

However, I do believe in insight. The perceived world is just that - perceived. While it exists whether or not I perceive it, my perception may be superficial. My observations may not push past the obvious to get at the center of the thing.

Insight takes work. That is where I was going with this. Rather than throwing my hands up and declaring that I am all out of insight, I should have set myself to the work of penetrating the superficial and seeing beyond the obvious.