[cornelis]

If I might add, Voegelin's word reality or (I presume) "human existence" lays great emphasis on participation, which is also from Plato, but I don't know whether the cave analogy suits that. Ironically, maro's post treats the tension produced by a participatory (rather than a static cosmic or universal) life.

[betty boop]

...maro's post treats the tension produced by a participatory (rather than a static cosmic or universal) life.

Agreed, cornelis. I was loving everything maro said -- 'til I came to his "conclusion." Which seemed to me to contradict his previous argument....

It seems we may have a case of "cognitive dissonance" here -- whether it be his or mine, I leave to the reader to judge for himself. Or maybe there's another explanation.... maro?