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The Cave and the Light

Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization

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The Cave and the Light

Written by: Arthur Herman
Narrated by: Paul Hecht
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About this listen

The Cave and the Light reveals how two Greek philosophers became the twin fountainheads of Western culture, and how their rivalry gave Western civilization its unique dynamism down to the present.

©2013 Arthur Herman (P)2013 Recorded Books Ancient Europe Greece Greek & Roman Philosophy World Middle Ages Ancient History Metaphysical Capitalism Mathematics Liberalism Socialism Morality Mythology Imperialism Latin America Ancient Greece Renaissance
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a full and thorough telling of the immense influence of Aristotle and Plato's immense influence on history and today

an essential book for Western history

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This book lays out a multi-millennia war of ideas between the two biggest and most influential philosophers (and their followers) in Western history: Pluto and Aristotle. It helps contextualize the battles of modern history as part of this war. The modern world may not remember where this started but Arthur Herman reminds us.

There are parts I found slow (particularly the middle ages) but there is so much in this book it's hard to fault it for that. Any one of the chapters could be books. I also think it maybe leaning into the book's premise/thesis too much. But there is clearly truth to it, it could be summed up as the poet versus the scientist or the left brain versus the right brain. But Herman's version gives it real flesh and blood as well as a lineage that can be seen as a narrative.

The writing and narration is excellent at all times. I will be returning to this book in the future. It has forever changed the way I see the modern world.

Absolute must read for saving the west

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Even if the author sometimes bends things a little to defend its theory, viewing the story of Western civilization through the scope of that Platonic vs Aristotelian struggle is very revealing in a multitude of ways, that form the chapters of this book, some of which I was bound to enjoy way more than others , as you will probably too if you decide to go along with reading this book

It is in no way objective. That's also the point of this entire book that, in the end, strict objectivity is a threat to our liberty, and must be somehow overcome. In short, the form of this book reflects its substance, and that is what ''truth'' really means as per this book.

I recommend reading it, it is really enjoyable.

Very engaging narrator for a passionate thesis

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