Plato and Richard Nixon

Featured Speaker: Eddie Goldberg, M.D.

 More than 2,300 years ago Plato’s Republic talked about “the parable of the shadows of the cave wall.” The prisoners inside the cave (us) think the shadows are real, when at best they are only their interpretation of what is actually happening. Different versions of the parable have been retold many times over the succeeding years, but it was the 1960 televised debate between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon that became one of the most significant examples of the parable. Nixon lost the first debate and the election supposedly because he had “lousy makeup” for his television appearance. The TV images of Nixon and Kennedy were the shadows, and the commonly held interpretations were incorrect. The TV screen has become our cave wall. The lessons of The Republic need to be continuously taught, especially as we enter the world of artificial intelligence.

Presenter Biography

Eddie Goldberg’s interest in the American presidents began at Cornell University, from which he graduated with a major in American studies. His dream was to be a history teacher. Following his father’s strong advice, however, he soon found himself in medical school; became a physician; and practiced internal medicine for over 30 years. Since then, he has been able to return to his love of American history, spending much of his time pursuing his interests at the Osher programs at Brandeis and UCSD.

Coordinator: : Mavis Porter