Plato, The Matrix, and Spaghetti Sauce

After reading and understanding Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, one can examine almost any facet of life via Socrates' discussion with Glaucon. Relationships, government, media, politics, and education are just a few areas of the human experience which indeed have puppeteers, prisoners, shadows, truth, and choices as main players that reflect Plato’s allegory. In each of these “real world” situations, we have opportunities to accept a currently viewed “reality” without question, or take the time and effort to view different perspectives that may reveal a different reality or truth than the one originally perceived. Often the journey which leads to embracing new perspectives, realities, and truths is uncomfortable; indeed, one may avoid pain and discomfort by choosing to remain chained and accepting of the shadow world one has been shown.

In the following scene from The Matrix, the Warshawski brothers masterfully retell Plato’s allegory via science fiction. The scene begins with Morpheus offering Neo the choice to find out what the matrix is and ending with Neo “rebirth” into the “real world.” Neo, not unlike those enslaved in Plato’s allegory, is imprisoned along with millions of others by a high tech pod system. His “chains” are actually attached to his body as he lies passively in a vegetative state, viewing the “shadows” of what he only thinks is the reality of his life. As “prisoners” who have already escaped the bondage of the Matrix, Morpheus and his team offer Neo an opportunity to escape his shadow life in order to know the truth. The choice is a tough one, from which there is no return. The pain, discomfort, and disorientation Neo feels during his transition from bondage to the real world is not unlike the the “pain” and “anger” and disbelief of the freed prisoner of the Cave Socrates describes.




While there are lots of “real world” applications to be gleaned and studied from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Malcolm Gladwell presents the story of Howard Moskowitz at the TED, Ideas Worth Spreading conference.




As you listen to Malcolm Gladwell tell Howard Moskowitz’s story, think of how this narrative reflects the realities of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

Gladwell = Socrates
Glaucon = us, the audience
Howard Moskowitz = a freed slave returning to the cave to present others with a new truth
Various corporations (Pepsi, Ragu, Prego, etc) = the enslaved viewing shadows on the cave wall
The Advertising Industry = the puppeteers




Malcolm Gladwell is a staff writer for The New Yorker and the author of three books:
Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Difference
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Outliers: The Secret to Success

X and Y Leadership via Crimson Tide

In the Human Side of Enterprise (1967), Douglass McGregor outlines two distinct leadership styles. The X Leader, according to McGregor, demonstrates a leadership style that is pessimistic, negative, and formal. This type of leader often is one that micro manages from the top down. The X Leader tends to view members of the team as subordinate and lacks trust and confidence in the team. On the other hand, McGregor states that the Y Leader is positive, optimistic, informal, and often creates an environment conducive to team productivity. Typically, the Y Leader’s positive beliefs are not articulated, but rather demonstrated by his behaviors that clear the way for the team to do the best jobs they know how to do.

Two characters in Crimson Tide illustrate McGregor’s X and Y leadership styles. Commander Ramsey (Gene Hackman), the CO, can be seen as an X style leader. Lieutenant Commander Hunter (Denzelle Washington), the XO, can be seen as a Y style leader. The following scenes illustrate these styles.

In the first clip, Ramsey attempts to rally his soldiers around their mission through the use of humor and by attempting to evoke pride via the name of the sub, The Alabama. However, he emphasizes that he is in charge and expects the men (his “little ducks”) to do what he says when he says it, no matter what; he “expects” and “demands” that the men keep up with him on his boat. If the men find that they are unable to keep up, he threatens to put his boot in their gluteus maxima. (blog)



In the next scene, Ramsey attempts to “test” Hunter under the guise of sharing a cigar with him. Ramsey informs Hunter that he (Hunter) has risen in his (Ramsey’s) estimation because of his (Ramsey’s) actions, underscoring that he had minimal confidence in Hunter’s credentials. Again, Ramsey makes clear that he is in charge of the sub. (DVD, 6)

The third scene shows Ramsey attempting to bait Hunter into a debate about the theory of war. During the discussion, Ramsey “talks down” to Hunter, gives him sarcastic names, and feigns deference to Hunter in an attempt to undermine Hunter’s point of view. Ramsey does all this in front of the other officers who help run the team so as to establish dominancy. (blog)



In each of these scenes, Ramsey continually attempts to assert the top down leadership style and is often aggressive and defensive in how he justifies his actions. Small things, such as tone of voice, a look of exasperation, or sarcastic complement underscore his X style leadership.

Hunter’s style of leadership, on the other hand, is more Y-like in nature. An example of this style is shown when Hunter witnesses a fight in the galley. He does not break up the fight, but lets the men handle it. He then asks one of the soldiers involved what the fight was about, reminding the soldier of his potential to get a commission if he did not participate in such behavior. After warning the soldier, Hunter then identifies with the soldier on a personal level by taking his side of the argument. “You have to set an example even in the face of stupidity.” (blog,2:40-3:37)


Immediately after the fight, Hunter attempts to alert Ramsey of the low morale of the men on the ship. Ramsey is not pleased with the crew’s performance on a drill and says that the men need a “kick in the ass” while Hunter says they need a “pat on the back.” Ramsey sarcastically notes that Hunter “has the pulse of the men” and makes a general announcement to the crew inviting anyone who has low morale or is on edge to leave the ship. (blog, 3:37-5:35)

In another instance, the radio is broke at a time when communication with the outside world is paramount. Hunter finds out who is in charge, addresses him by name, and lays out the problem. Hunter then exercises his trust by turning over control of the situation to the soldier, leaving the solution with him. Hunter lightens an otherwise grave situation by using humor and finding something that could break the tension while at the same time underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Later, he checks with the radio repair man and provides brief encouragement to him. (dvd, 22?)

Similarly, Hunter gives Wheps, the only officer who has the combination to the launch codes a layout of the situation, and a vote of total confidence. Hunter knows Wheps will “make up (his) own mind,” even in the face of incredible pressure. Hunter does not try to coerce Wheps, but rather appeals to him and gives him the confidence to do what he thinks is right. Ramsey, on the other hand, uses several unethical methods to coerce Wheps into opening the combination. (dvd, 26)

In the final scene, Ramsey asserts his X Leadership style by assaulting Hunter in an attempt to sway Hunter’s choice not to fire the missiles. Hunter shows his Y Leadership style by not relinquishing the key and not hitting Ramsey back. His pacifism is not a sign of weakness, but an immense display of strength that wins the day. (dvd, 28)

Articulating a Vision

In the following scenes from the movies Scent of a Woman, Dead Poets’ Society, and The Postman, each leader presents a vision to his followers.


In Scent of a Woman, Colonel Slade appears at a hearing to help defend Charlie, a student at the prestigious Baird School. Charlie is being pressured to reveal who has vandalized the headmaster’s new Jaguar. George, another student who also knows who is responsible, is also at the hearing along with his father. The headmaster has promised Charlie that if he reveals the vandals he will write a scholarship recommendation for Charlie. Without the scholarship, Charlie will not be able to afford the college of his choice. Because George’s father is a big money donor to the school, the headmaster does not have leverage over him. Although the future looks bleak for Charlie, Colonel Slade presents a vision of the situation that is masterful. Via rhetorical strategies (which rely more on emotion than logic), Slade’s vision of the situation sways the verdict. Ironically, Colonel Slade is blind.




"Dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision." — Anonymous

In Dead Poet’s Society, Mr. Keating (aka “the Captain”) attempts to get his students to think about literature for themselves. The setting of an all boys’ preparatory school stifles creativity and encourages conformity. However, Keating makes a repeated point to present a different vision of education. Indeed, he offers up a physical exercise in order to illustrate the importance of having a different “vision” or point of view outside the norm.




"The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious." — John Scully

The Postman takes place in 2013; the United States of America as we know it has been destroyed. In this apocalyptic wasteland there are no dreams of a better tomorrow, only scattered survivors struggling to exist. However, a single man discovers a way to inspire hope. Simply by creating a fictitious story about the reorganization of the federal government and the re-establishment of the postal service, the “postman” delivers not only the mail, but the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. This small vision, even though it is not true, is so powerful that it sparks a movement and encourages people become more than they ever thought possible.



"You've got to think about big things while you're doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction."
— Alvin Toffler