“Wind Eggs” or, literally, farts, were a metaphor from Plato for ideas that seemed to have substance but that fell apart upon closer examination. Sadly, this was his entire philosophy of art and poetr“Wind Eggs” or, literally, farts, were a metaphor from Plato for ideas that seemed to have substance but that fell apart upon closer examination. Sadly, this was his entire philosophy of art and poetry which was that it was a mere simulacrum or copy which had nothing to offer us and was more likely to mislead.
As much as I admire Plato I think the wind eggs exploded in his face and that art and literature have more to tell us, because of their emotional content, than the dry desert winds of philosophy alone....more