The Cave and the Light
Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo first 3 months
Amazon Prime member exclusive: get any 2 titles with your free trial. Terms apply.
The Cave and the Light
Buy Now for $38.97
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Paul Hecht
-
Written by:
-
Arthur Herman
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 BooksWhat listeners say about The Cave and the Light
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-06-25
an essential book for Western history
a full and thorough telling of the immense influence of Aristotle and Plato's immense influence on history and today
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Kippenhuck
- 2020-08-12
Absolute must read for saving the west
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-09-13
Very engaging narrator for a passionate thesis
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!