The two most notable philosophical notions in the western canon are Plato’s Cave and Kant’s Appearances.

In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave we are asked to imagine that we humans are sitting in chains watching shadows on a wall. It’s the only reality we know. Is there a fire behind us, shining through people going to and fro and creating those shadows? Good question.

In Kant’s philosophy, he says that we cannot know things-in-themselves, but only appearances. How do we know anything beyond the appearances? Good question.

In the last month we Americans have seen some remarkable changes in the shadows on the wall. Remember that doddering shadow we called Slow Joe? Gone, all of a sudden, to be replaced by another shadow, a prancing illumination that the far-Right call Kackling Kamala.

And who was directing the shadows and throwing the sticks on the fire? Was it Nancy Pelosi, revered descendant of the imperial D’Alesandro dynasty? Good question.

Okay. So the new presidential shadow looks different, but what about reality? Has anything really changed, or just the appearance? Here’s what one commentator had to say:

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man........

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