"Know Thyself" - Socrates advises Alciabades - who wants to put himself forward for political office.

Part A - The Importance to “Know Thyself” (and to Know What the “Self” Actually Is) – and then Part B - Tips On How To Find the Correct Spiritual Path for You.

The following two blog posts were originally written as one evening presentation - talk. I think its easier to divide this talk into two seperate blog posts - hence the occassional reference such as: 'thanks for coming this evening.... etc'.

Part A - Socrates Encourages Alcibiades to “Know Thyself”.

I think it is a well accepted phrase among spiritual people that they are somehow “following the path” – or at least that they feel they should be. But what does this mean for people who find themselves a little bit lost – and maybe bewildered or overwhelmed by the necessities and expectations of our modern Western Society.

Where can we find “the path”?
Where should we look?
Does it matter which path we choose?

These are all questions that many people ask themselves and especially people in their mid-twenties and older.

It would be a lie if I said that I thought the answers to the above and similar questions were easy or fast ….. that we could find peace of mind and lasting satisfaction by the quick read of a prescribed book, or the application of an all encompassing – one size fits all – regime of spiritual practice as offered by some traditional mainstream religious organizations. The reality perhaps is more complicated…. and perhaps the truth is that we are all unique individuals – all finding ourselves in a unique place – and after personal contemplation - all having a different ideal destination or goal for our lives. If this is the case, my belief is that these things (like finding the path) will usually take time and some effort to discover. This is perhaps a little out of “fashion” for many people in our instant material gratification – “I want it now” western society. We seem to be getting out of the habit of waiting for things or gradually working towards things. For example, we no longer save for a new car or TV we get it today – often on credit. Similarly, I saw an advert for magic mushrooms called “Old Philosopher” offering “instant enlightenment”. Although mushrooms are not my thing – instant enlightenment for 3 dollars a hit does not sound bad………. or I am afraid……. believable.

Our task of finding the spiritual path is also made harder with things like the influence of the TV and much other media – and the education system also doing its part in the pre conditioning of young people to “do well” in the modern material and excessively consumerist world. These things seem to do their very best to obscure and hide the spiritual path from people – and indeed ridicule anyone who seeks “the truth” or wishes to explore different ways of living – perhaps with slightly different goals for their lives than what the consumer led society offers us – or increasingly “requires” of us. What I am in fact suggesting is that truly finding the spiritual path and then following it is not quite as easy as some people make out.

In order to appreciate some of the key tasks necessary in finding the path perhaps we should imagine a lost tourist standing on a busy street corner in an unfamiliar big city. The tourist turns the big map one way and another trying to work out what to do and which way to go. In as sense this is a very straightforward example of someone trying to find his or her path. Imagine also that this is an inexperienced or novice tourist – in a strange city – outside of their usual familiar comfort zone – where what to do and where to go have always been easy for them – or pre-conditioned for them since an early age. As the tourist keeps turning the map one way and another they seem just to get more and more confused.

You see there are two essential pieces of information the tourist needs in order to find the path using the map. Of course they need to know where they want to go on the map. Whether they want to go back to the hotel or to the museum obviously makes a difference to the path. However, the first thing the tourist really needs to know in order to work out the right path is: “Where Am I?” This is the first question they need to ask – since if they know where they are – and secondly where they want to go – the task of finding the way in between is much easier. That is why at London underground and other metro stations around the world there are often local street maps on the walls near the exits of the metro stations – and usually in big red letters it says: “YOU ARE HERE !” 

Returning to our main theme – finding the correct spiritual path – it is my opinion that perhaps there are several possible fine philosophical or spiritual paths to follow. However, before people assume that fine philosophies must surely come from exotic lands in far away places, I would like to remind them that there is also a very fine and richly documented philosophic tradition closer to home in Europe. For simplicity I shall refer to this as the ancient Greek philosophy of Socrates and Plato. I say this for simplicity because ancient Greece has several other very influential philosophers with their own philosophies separate to the Socratic-Platonic tradition. In addition, Socrates the teacher and mentor of Plato was well aware of many other Greek and foreign philosophers who preceded him – and these were obviously an influence on him one way or another. In the same way, following on after Plato many other philosophers commentated on and developed his ideas – Plotinus and Proclus being two very notable examples. Indeed many Platonic ideas can be traced into early Christian thought.

Now I mention the Socratic-Platonic Greek tradition for an important reason; which is that they put a great deal of emphasis on that first essential question in finding our spiritual paths: “Where Am I?” For convenience, I will say that the way they dealt with this was that they emphasised the phrase “Know Thyself” – which incidentally was one of the two statements written above the entrance of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece which was the spiritual heart of Greece. The Socratic-Platonic tradition emphasises that in order to begin any spiritual or philosophical path we must first know who we are – and furthermore “WHAT” we are. As I mentioned earlier – for many of us – getting to know ourselves and who we are deep inside and what makes us tick – often takes a little time, effort and emotional pain.

So what do Socrates and Plato have to tell us to help us find our path and know ourselves? Without getting too bogged down in historical dates and details it is perhaps interesting to know that Socrates was put on trial in Athens in 399 B.C. – then aged 70 – and received the death penalty in that year for “trumped” up charges. I guess his student and friend Plato was about 28 by then. Within 12 years or so of this event Plato aged about 40 set up his “Academy” in Athens in 387 B.C. for the general advancement of education and learning – and the study of the ideas of his teacher Socrates. Plato wrote more than 20 books – usually in the form of “Dialogues” between Socrates and his various students and friends – in order to make a written record of Socrates’ ideas and conversations. Traditionally, Plato’s writing are grouped into 3 groups being early, middle, and later period writings. His earlier works are generally thought to be truer recordings of Socrates’ teachings, while middle and later writings are thought more and more to include Plato’s own ideas although he often supposedly portrayed these ideas as being spoken by Socrates in his dialogues. (You may remember that Socrates is believed to have written nothing and we only know of Socrates ideas through a few sources – by far the most important being Plato’s writings.)

In England many people understandably take pride in educational institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge which have both been around for some 500 years. Imagine then the scene in Athens during the 5th century A.D. about 1500 years ago. Plato’s Academy by say 450 A.D. is some 837 years old – an unbroken seat of learning for all this time. It has by now become primarily a place for the study of philosophy and the texts of its founder Plato. The headmaster or principal of the Academy is a philosopher called Proclus – and the school has been moved to Proclus’ modest house to avoid the unwanted attention and possible danger from the Christian authorities then in power in Athens….. Incidentely, Proclus died around 485 c.e. and one of the first exhibits you see on the way into the New Acropolis Museum is about his little house where Plato’s Academy was then based. Anyway; at Plato’s Academy by then it had become an established tradition that the first book of Plato that the new students (young men and women) studied was a book called: ‘The First Alcibiades’. This was because it encouraged and emphasised to the new students the importance of “KNOW THYSELF” and the importance of asking ourselves: “Where We Are” so that we can start our philosophical or spiritual path from a realistic place and in the correct way. At Plato’s Academy some 800 years after its foundation – it was viewed as essential to KNOW THYSELF first and indeed to contemplate and discuss what we actually are and indeed what the “self” actually is.

What then is The First Alcibiades all about and why is it (or just its message) an important part of helping us today to find our often hard to find and obscured spiritual and practical paths for life (?) Well, as mentioned the dialogue is about us first getting to know ourselves. The dialogue is a conversation between a middle aged Socrates and Alcibiades as a young man – about 20’ish we suppose. Alcibiades has taken it into his head to try and “do well” in political life. Quite possibly this notion of “doing well” included a fair bit of doing well for him or her self as with many politicians from then to now. Socrates stops Alcibiades on the very day he is heading towards the city centre to put himself forward for political office. Although Socrates and Alcibiades have known and seen each other around regularly for many years – indeed since Alcibiades’ childhood – Socrates has not spoken to Alcibiades for a year or two at any length for divinely inspired reasons as Socrates explains. There are many interesting points and ideas raised in this short dialogue of Plato but I shall try and select just those especially relevant to knowing ourselves and finding the path we seek….

Firstly, Socrates asks Alcibiades what he thinks he has to offer the people of Athens if he becomes a political statesman for them. What special skills, abilities or experience does he have to do the job he is seeking? Through his usual questioning technique Socrates uncovers and encourages Alcibiades to admit that actually he does not know anything about political matters – negotiations or the affairs of state etc. [What’s new? ]
Socrates then gives examples along the lines of whether we would let someone
fix our car unless they were trained or experienced mechanics; or whether we should let someone perform a medical operation on us unless they are trained or experienced doctors? So why – Socrates asks Alcibiades – would we want someone to run the city or country for us who did not have any training or experience in these matters. (Perhaps we would do well to ask some of our modern day would be politicians or ministers similar questions. ?)

Socrates points out to Alcibiades that unless we are aware (or have it pointed out to us) that we do not know something…. we will not try to find out about that thing and try to correct our lack of knowledge in a particular subject. He says we will fall into the trap of being “DOUBLY IGNORANT” – That is; firstly not knowing something; and secondly thinking we do know about something or have the appropriate skills – so that we do not bother to inform ourselves and correct this lack of knowledge. Simply put; this is why for example we consult lawyers and solicitors on legal matters. We know we are not experts in this area and so we consult with people who are trained and experienced experts in this area. It’s no big problem if you do not know something – providing you are aware of it and indeed admit it to yourself and others when necessary. In modern day life we consult “experts” on a whole range of subjects. (It’s why I no longer even try to repair my car. These days I know I don’t know how.)

All simple enough so far… Socrates through his questioning technique has made Alcibiades admit that he lacks knowledge and experience on a whole range of issues. But then Socrates goes further by discussing that if we are going to teach ourselves or otherwise inform ourselves wisely about things – then we better have some understanding at least of what “the self” actually is…. and that this is truly what “Knowing Thyself” is about.

So what does Socrates say “the self” is ? Well he discusses with Alcibiades that there is a difference between taking care of our shoes and taking care of our feet. He says that the shoes are merely “appurtenant to the feet. Similarly he mentions that rings are merely appurtenant to the hands and are not the hands themselves.

Socrates then points out the difference between the tools a craftsman uses – such as a shoemaker using a knife to cut the leather – being different to the craftsman them self. In the same way the musical instrument is different to the musician themself. This may seem obvious to us and perhaps unnecessary for Socrates to explain; but Socrates is creating “universals” or universal principles and truths in his young students mind.

Socrates then makes the distinction between the eyes and hands that shoemakers and musicians use compared to the shoemaker and musician themselves. He says - and in the light of the universals established Alcibiades agrees – that they are not the same thing.

Finally Socrates says (P.56 text): ‘And, does not a man use his whole body?’
Alcibiades replies: ‘most certainly’
Socrates then says: ‘A man therefore is a thing different from his body?’
Alcibiades replies: ‘It seems so’.
Socrates then asks: ‘What sort of a being then is a man?’
…. To which Alcibiades replies: ‘I know not’.

Socrates has really explained to Alcibiades that what we really are is our “souls” and that “knowing ourselves” is really about knowing that we are souls – and that to take good care of oneself (and be happy and lead the good and virtuous life etc) it is of primary importance to worry less about material possessions and celebrity etc – but to ensure that we take good care of our souls and live in a way that is good for the soul. For example, luxuries are only appurtenant to our bodies – and our bodies are in the end only appurtenant to our souls.

Well this may be all very easy to quote from Plato’s writings on Socrates – but what does it all mean to our lives today. What can we learn (either in specific details or general principles) about how to find our best unique spiritual path today….

Well let’s first ask ourselves a few practical questions and maybe discuss a few of your questions so far before I move on (part B follows… )

1. Firstly, do you believe that we human beings have a soul – and that the soul lives on after our body has died? It doe s not matter why or how you think or feel that. Now depending on what answer a person gives to this question – it will usually have a big effect on the way people live their lives….

-Now for those who “do” believe I ask this second question:

2. Do you believe that the kind of life we live or lead here on earth will somehow effect the way our souls go on after we die? ….. “Judgement” may be too strong a word maybe… I am just talking about a vague sense that “good” people who try to live “good” lives (however we then go on to define those terms) somehow benefit in some way when “we move on”.

3. Now for those who “do not” believe in a soul which goes on after death I ask this: Do you think that it is better to try and live in a “good and virtuous way” (as said – however we then go on to define that) rather than living in a greedy, selfish, non-caring way?

So whether we believe strongly in the existence of the soul – or maybe just a little – or even not at all – perhaps many of us can still agree that some ways of living are preferable to others. (Socrates was fairly modest about all his ideas after all. In another of Plato’s dialogues he says that even if he is mistaken and the soul does not go on – he still prefers to live a good and decent life than the life of a bad guy – so he has nothing to loose or fear either way.

Part B is: "Your Own Spiritual and Philosophical Path - And Tips How to Un-Cover It.

This is a more personal piece of writing by James - and refers less directly to Socrates and Plato. Therefore this piece appears on the blogg: "James' Philosophical Agora" at: 
 http://jamesphilosophicalagora.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/part-b-tips-on-how-to-uncover-your-own.html

Acknowledgements Re part A Above:

1)Thanks to Tim Addey of the Prometheus Trust for many ideas gained from his talks on “Know Thyself” and all things Socratic and Platonic. (See links)

Myths for Our Times

Socrates and Plato - Myths for Our Times

[See also the longer essay by Tim Addey:

'Myth - The Final Phase of Platonic Philosophy' at:

http://socrates4today.webs.com/mythbytimaddey.htm ]

REGARDING MYTHS

Some Thoughts - Summer 2012

The following are some thoughts on myths and how we should use them that were included in a talk I gave to the Theosophical Society in London in March 2004 titled: The Greek Gods – A Quantum Reality ! (Talk – March 2004)

EXTRACTS: [A full transcript of the talk is available on request.]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

…..A SHORT PRE-AMBLE IF I MAY:

……… Before we look at some details and myths of the Greek Gods themselves, I would like quickly to consider the nature of myth. One well known saying we should consider is:

       ‘Myth is what people of one faith call other people’s religion’.  

I think it is accepted that many traditional orthodox Jews might consider the storey of Jesus to be a myth, as the Christian might regard the Vedic scriptures and stories of Hindu Gods as myth, as the traditional Hindu might well look at Genesis as a myth – although these days of course we all do this very politely and very PC whatever we may actually be feeling inside.

When it comes to us looking for spiritual information about the Greek Gods, we are largely obliged to look to the Greek myths – but we should have some consideration about the sources of these myths. It is important to remember that the stories of the Greek Gods and the heavens were passed down from generation to generation orally for many centuries, some perhaps for as much as a thousand years, before anything at all was actually written down about them. This has led to a number of variations on certain myths, and certainly various interpretations of certain myths. For example, Socrates himself regards many of the myths as blasphemous or untrue – and I quote Socrates only as a well-known historical man of the time whose opinions we actually have written down for us to agree or disagree with.

An example of such a myth – open to a blasphemous interpretation - would be the abduction of Ganymede by Zeus from the blood and gore of the frontline at the battle of Troy. (and incidentally,…. the ‘Myth of Troy’ is now generally accepted as a reality!) Anyway, Zeus takes pity on the young Ganymede and disguised as a giant eagle descends to Troy and plucks the young boy from the battlefield and takes him up to the abode of the Gods on Mount Olympus to be his cupbearer. For many, it was a simple act of compassion, saving a young lad from the horrors of war; but to some it is an act of monstrous child abduction and rape for which there is of course no evidence. Can two interpretations be further apart ? There is nothing to specifically suggest anything untoward in the myth, but some people like to put the negative interpretation on this storey and indeed many other myths. However, as Socrates says, and I agree, …”such stories and interpretations about the Gods are blasphemous”.

So my point is, we must exercise care in interpreting the myths we have, firstly because of the oral tradition for many centuries before they were written down and therefore a proneness to variation in narrative, and secondly because of the interpretation some people have given to the myths over the years, often negative, as I suppose they are entitled to do, but with no more or less accuracy than any other interpretation. T

The Greek myths are therefore fortunately, (yet unfortunately in some ways as explained above) open to considerable interpretation unlike the myths of some more “closed” or “dogmatic” faiths – often referred to “faiths of a book.”

Regarding the “Faith and Practice” of the ancient Greeks, in truth very little is known about this from ancient times although there are some these days who would claim differently…… This of course is a great shame academically – but also spiritually – since we do know that great importance was attached to the exactness of these holy services in terms of the words used and the actions performed.

So; enough of preliminary remarks urging caution on interpreting myths and the information we have. I shall now tell you something of the Greek view of CREATION and indeed how the twelve main Olympian Gods came into being…..   
......  I will then conclude by putting the Greeks Gods and their cosmology into a more modern context, and consider the ‘Gods’ influence on our lives today adding some comments on the latest scientific thinking in quantum physics and how this might oddly be relevant to our lives today. [The full transcript of this talk is available on request.]

..... Regarding the nature of the afterlife, I would like to tell you something very important to our understanding of the Greeks, also revealed by Socrates later on in PLATO’S book PHAEDO. If nothing else, I would like you to take this point away this evening as I think it a crucially important point. When asked by one of his visitors in the Athens jail shortly before his execution about the afterlife, Socrates give a 3 or 4 page answer in some detail that is quite bizarre, with boats taking us down rivers that go around the world etc. It is Socrates final two lines of this passage that are so important and should be remembered. Having given his lengthy “unbelievable” description of the afterlife he says words to the effect: ‘Of course, one can’t expect anyone with any sense or education to believe that what I have just said is exactly or even remotely like what happens literally in reality. But what I have just said is more or less how it is, and we can think of it in that way.’  And this is of course my whole point about many of the Greek myths and stories - were they ever intended to be believed literally, or were they ‘truths’ and ‘descriptions’ given to us in symbolic language and phrases so we could understand the ideas and difficult concepts being discussed?

Furthermore, Socrates in another of Plato’s books, the PHAEDRUS, tells us that we humans will never know what the Gods are, or the DIVINE actually is: we do not have the language or the understanding to even describe these things. But Socrates says; we can describe more or less the situation and roughly some of the aspects of the divine, so that we can get an idea of what it is like.

Now, moving on to the present day, this is exactly the approach adopted many top scientists today, particularly quantum physicists and cosmologists. They are often not sure ‘exactly’ how it is, but they create models that give us an idea of how things are, and help to explain how things may work. If you walk into a science classroom you will see wall charts with pictures of atoms, molecules and many other things. There are also models of molecules with little balls on straws. Well molecules do not look like this at all, and atoms do not look like that chart with electrons circling the nucleus like planets going around the sun. However, these diagrams and models do help students to understand what is going on and “what it is like”.

There have been some fantastic developments in physics generally in the last 50 years and especially in the last 20 years in quantum physics and cosmology that should be of great interest to any spiritual people or religious people of any faith. I am talking about things such as the BIG BANG theory or model of creation, the nature of matter, the shape of the universe, and especially quantum mechanics. Strangely I believe, religious people like me can take comfort from these developments and I’d like to make one or two comments about this before I close. The Greeks through the myth of ORPHEOUS talk about the ORPHIC EGG – and at Cambridge University, Stephen Hawkins, talks about Big Bangs. These are really not such different ideas, and something you might like to discuss if we have time later. As I have mentioned, only this week (March 04) with new photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists are now talking of a time in the universe when there was no light, and then light coming into being. The Greeks talk of Aether (light) being born of Erebus (Darkness) and his wife Nyx, Night. Very strangely, this myth is really is a good likeness in fact to how we are explaining things today scientifically, albeit the ancient Greeks use symbolic ideas and language to make the concepts easy to understand. There are many more examples such as these I can assure you – and they are not unique to the ancient Greek Olympic Religion.

Similarly, under certain conditions nuclear particles can appear from ‘nothing’ and disappear again. Not so far removed from the creation of order from CHAOS in Greek so called mythology.

If you are an agnostic or atheist, and you think that religion is somehow weird and is for ‘weirdos’ – you should try doing  a quantum physics course at a top university. Things just don’t make sense ‘scientifically’ and are very weird to say the least when we consider quantum physics and the quantum world:
* A piece of matter can be in two places at once!
* It can appear from nothing and then disappear again!
* It can exist as a particle or a wave or both – until it is believed, only a conscious mind looks at it, and that the ‘looking’ (thinking/knowing) makes it then decide to be a particle or a wave.
* Two partner electrons can communicate and affect each other from different ends of the universe ‘simultaneously’ – and that’s quicker than the speed of light, and that is supposed to be impossible.

Yes, the science of quantum mechanics is all very weird and difficult to understand or say what ‘exactly’ is definitely happening. In truth, in these complicated areas the scientists and physicists have come up against a brick wall in trying to make progress– not a brick wall of technology or equipment to do experiments, not a brick wall which hides the facts from them, but a brick wall of ‘understanding’ which needs them to “let go” of traditional scientific dogma. There is at this moment ONLY ONE ladder that allows this brick wall to be climbed and crossed and allow us to understand the quantum world – and that ladder is FAITH – and the more dogmatic the religion or the priest, and the more dogmatic the scientist and physicist is, the harder that ladder of understanding – the ladder of truth - will be to climb. For they must now climb that ladder together, scientist and priest together – for the name of that ladder is faith as a reality. I am sure that in the next 10 to 15 years only, the most wonderful discoveries will be made in the realm of quantum physics and understanding.

Having digressed a little into science, I would like to curve my remarks back towards the Greek Gods and Greek Myths and repeat some more very wise and prophetic words from Socrates. Remember that top scientists use ‘models’ to explain things. They are the first to admit that these models are not exactly what happens, but that they help us to understand what is going on. They show us ‘kinda’ what it’s like – not exactly how it is - which at the current time is  ‘unknowable’ to us humans. As I mentioned earlier, Socrates says the same thing exactly about the Gods in the Phaedrus. He says:

       ‘We cannot describe the Gods as we don’t have the language to properly describe them, and we will never know exactly what the Gods are…. We can only know some aspects about them and describe what they are like.’

I think these remarks of Socrates compliment extremely well a science book I read recently by Dr John Gribbin  - who incidentally has a PhD in astrophysics from Cambridge – so I guess he knows what he is talking about. Dr Gribben says in the final chapter of his book called ‘Schrodinger’s Kittens’ which deals in some detail with the various latest theories and models of quantum physics:

       ‘I stress again, all such interpretations (..of quantum mechanics)  are myths, crutches to help us imagine what is going on at the quantum level and to make testable predictions. They are not, any of them, uniquely ‘the truth’, rather they are all ‘real’, even when they disagree with one another.’

These remarks of  Dr Gribben on science seem like wonderful words of advice for us when we consider the myths of other people’s religions. Perhaps the myths are all true – even when they dis-agree with each other. Certainly words worth our consideration I believe.

Finally, I should like to make a few comments about Q.C.F’s. (quantum conscious fields) and recommend a very readable book by the Surrey University microbiology professor Dr. JoJo McFadden. The book is called ‘Quantum Evolution – Life in the Multiverse’ and amongst other things looks at how the human mind works and takes a very up to date scientific look at the latest theories of consciousness.

Now if any of you are psychic (as oppose to a physicist), or know someone who is psychic, and you are interested or confused by how all this ‘might’ work, then try reading this book. Some very interesting scientific discoveries are coming soon in this area according to Dr McFadden.  In his book he talks about the Quantum mind, and consciousness being a quantum function. As I have mentioned, the quantum physicists are now busy talking about the possible importance of ‘consciousness’ in particle wave collapse and the formation of particles – i.e. the nature of  CREATION.  As odd as this may sound, I believe that these areas of study are very relevant to tonight’s subject ‘The Greek God’s – A Quantum Reality’ and indeed religion generally. We should not forget that it was Plato in his THEORY OF FORMS who first suggested that ‘consciousness’ impregnates on matter particles to create matter; and Plato was writing down his ideas long before the benefits of any modern scientific instrumentation - without a particle accelerator in sight…..  Given the international reputation of Plato as a rare and gifted mind – perhaps it is time for us to re-examine “the myths of Plato” in the light of modern scientific discovery and the unfolding discoveries of quantum mechanics.

Bibliography / Suggested Further Reading:

(Which at first glance may contain some odd bedfellows, but which will hopefully sit more naturally side by side in the years ahead.)

       1) ‘The Myths of Greece and Rome’, by H.A. Guerber. (Harrap, London, 1907) OR: ‘The   
       Greek Myths – Volumes 1 and 2’, by Robert Graves.

Both Guerber and Graves give excellent summaries of the information available on the Greek Gods from the so called ‘Myths’ of ancient Greece. All well known Gods are described, together with many of the less well know Gods, demi-gods and daemons. Most stories about these deities are described by both these authors in very readable styles.

2) ‘The Whole Shebang – A State of The Universe(s) Report’, by Timothy Ferris. (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1997)

The formation of planets, galaxies and super-clusters and the shape of the universe together with many relevant latest theories on cutting edge science developments are given. I like Ferris’ very readable style for the non specialist and the fact that although he does give his own view, he does sum up all sides of an argument before doing so.

3)   ‘Schrodinger’s Kittens – And The Search For Reality’, by John Gribben. (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1995)

       Gribben goes a little further than for the non-specialist in the fascinating areas and developments in quantum Mechanics in the last 10 – 15 years (1980 – 1995) The book is very understandable for the non-physicist like myself yet manages to probe some of the real quandaries in Quantum Mechanics in detail which should be of interest for spiritually minded people from all persuasions.

4)     ‘Socrates’, by Guthrie OR: ‘Socrates’, by Antony Gottlieb. (Phoenix, London,1997)

Guthrie’s ‘Socrates must be regarded as ‘the work’ on the life and work of Socrates. We cannot help but know Socrates better by reading this authorative and complete volume.  Gottlieb also gives the main aspects of Socrates in his extended essay.

5)      ‘The Great Forerunner – Studies in the Interpretation of Platonism and Christianity’,  By John S Hoyland. (Constable and Co – London – 1928)

6)     Hoyland explores many aspects of Plato and Greek thought which were read, known, altered and adopted by the early Christian theologians. Although raising many of the relevant points Hoyland’s book suffers from his own enthusiasm for Christianity (as he is entitled to have of course), but this does make for a rather biased and limited book.

        7)      ‘Phaedrus’, by Plato. (Penguin)

NOT simply “a discussion of Rhetoric” as the overly academic introductions to many translations of this important work would have us believe. It is Plato at his most poetic, most philosophic, and hidden within the pages I believe is Socrates at his most sincere and spiritual. I believe that ‘enlightenment’ is available for those prepared to search the pages of this wrongly interpreted, short, yet profoundly important dialogue..

8)     ‘Phaedo’, by Plato.  (Penguin)

Plato recounts the last days of Socrates’ life; spent deep in discussion with his friends in the Athens jail house. Socrates also gives us a lesson on myth – and shows enormous dignity and courage as he faces true martyrdom for his beliefs.