It is generally thought that Raphael is depicting Plato’s theory of forms and the Ideal Archetype, and that is why he is pointing upwards, Aristotle had his emphasis on concrete particulars, with his emphasis on the practical, and that is why he is pointing downward. Both understood each other but had different viewpoints.
Plato believed that locking into one course might lead to a narrowing viewpoint and might cause the loss of the ultimate picture, vision or Ideal. In Aristotle’s philosophy there is the continuous examination of each aspect of the approach. Someone following Aristotelean logic, when hearing that the goal is ten miles away, might react in the following manner. If I walk how far is it? It is ten miles. What is a mile? It is so many yards. What is a yard? It is so many feet. What is a foot? It is so many inches. What is an inch? If you can visualize getting down on your hands and knees looking at a ruler with inches, or peering into a microscope, you would be looking at the smallness of the distance. The difficulty with this approach is the potential danger of losing sight of the whole, as you go down to the basic unit. You would have your nose so close to looking at the inch, one might lose sight of the ultimate destination.
Plato and the Neo-Platonists worked with Universals and Archetype. Making the goal more evident, you might determine to walk the distance, you might fly to the spot. You might take a boat. You might intuitively reach it or you might use bilocation. If you learn from one instructor, how to walk their one way to the goal, then that is what you do. It wouldn’t mean that walking is the best, fastest or safest, it just means that this is what the instructor knows.
There is nothing wrong with any approach. Some people love to analyze how every single thing works and others only care about the end result. That is life and that is each person’s choice. Some people have a nice balance of the two approaches.
I have been presenting posts with the goal of attempting to place, within people’s consciousness, more of our potentialities as a means of discovering the aspects of human Archetype and reaching our Ideal. I have attempted to refrain from stating one manner, one direction or claiming something as the gospel. After 43 years of investigating, experiencing, utilizing, demonstrating and observing, I have found that there are many avenues to higher enlightenment and well-being. In my more mature years, I personally prefer the transcendentalists hugging trees and reaching greater enlightenment than Rudolph Steiner and the mentalist approach. I have an advanced degree in business and was a math/science major, so I am aware of the Aristotelian approach and the fun in investigating, cataloguing and organizing. I am a librarian. I have also been guided by dreams and spiritual awareness and integrate those aspects into my life.
I love and respect all approaches. That is what this earth experience is. We are given the ability to create. What we create is our choice. If one is content with their direction, viewpoint and their life, then that is all that matters. If one becomes too restricted or constricted in their thoughts, then this can lead to stagnation that may manifest in the physical or mental aspects of the individual. Your body and psyche are personally speaking to you.
As the waters rose higher and higher, a man in a rowboat appeared, and told him to get in. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the man in the rowboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.
The waters rose higher and higher, and suddenly a speedboat appeared. "Climb in!" shouted a man in the boat. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the man in the speedboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.
The waters continued to rise. A helicopter appeared and over the loudspeaker, the pilot announced he would lower a rope to the man on the roof. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the helicopter went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.
The waters rose higher and higher, and eventually they rose so high that the man on the roof was washed away, and alas, the poor man drowned.
Upon arriving in heaven, the man marched straight over to God. "Heavenly Father," he said, "I had faith in you… I prayed to you to save me, and yet you did nothing. Why?"
God gave him a puzzled look, and replied "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
There are many avenues that can lead us to greater wisdom, truth, happiness and love. Experience is why we are here. Whether we cast our view upward or downward is each person’s choice. I appreciate the wonderful love and supportive statements that many have given me. I am sorry that I don’t always individually acknowledge your loving thoughts. I surround each and every person, whether you gaze upwards or down, with love and best wishes.