Man and Monolith in Medieval Florence
Looking down on the Piazza della Signoria from above, I can't help but think of the spectrum here from a single individual on through humankind's greatest creations. At one end you have a simple man. Next to him is a statue, which is a larger-than-life representation of a man who was himself considered somewhat larger-than-life during his time. Then you have various buildings, in increasing order of size and complexity. Finally, you have the greatest edifice of them all: the Duomo. They go in order from simplicity to complexity, which might lead one to believe that that wonderful cathedral is the highest form of truth, the most timeless and real thing in the image. And yet, as Plato would point out, the very "reality" or respective "truth" of these various forms might better be seen as traveling in the opposite direction, as that great church with its remarkable dome is merely the most elaborate (and thus arguably the most unreal) extension of an idea, a representation or creation of a particular individual, conceived originally in the mind of a simple man.
Of course, it's also just a really pretty view. :)
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, wherever in the world you might be, and whatever it is you think about the nature of truth.
Man and Monolith in Medieval Florence
Looking down on the Piazza della Signoria from above, I can't help but think of the spectrum here from a single individual on through humankind's greatest creations. At one end you have a simple man. Next to him is a statue, which is a larger-than-life representation of a man who was himself considered somewhat larger-than-life during his time. Then you have various buildings, in increasing order of size and complexity. Finally, you have the greatest edifice of them all: the Duomo. They go in order from simplicity to complexity, which might lead one to believe that that wonderful cathedral is the highest form of truth, the most timeless and real thing in the image. And yet, as Plato would point out, the very "reality" or respective "truth" of these various forms might better be seen as traveling in the opposite direction, as that great church with its remarkable dome is merely the most elaborate (and thus arguably the most unreal) extension of an idea, a representation or creation of a particular individual, conceived originally in the mind of a simple man.
Of course, it's also just a really pretty view. :)
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, wherever in the world you might be, and whatever it is you think about the nature of truth.