G'kar Teaches

[shaalis]

His speech is just like Plato's Cave analogy in REPUBLIC

[cheapspellcheque]

The only thing I know is that I know nothing. - Socrates. After over 2400 years there is still none wiser.

[eleriel]

watching this, again, after so many years... I have to wonder if Biggs(stephen) and Katsulas(G'Kar) had any suspicion that they'd leave us so soon...

Both their characters seem, spiritually, to be so much brighter than everyone else...

I also want to say, to the well-meaning but bumbling pupil: "Put your face in the book."

[esthermlaw]

That explanation of the light on the wall is exactly what Lenier said to Aldous Gajic in episode 1.15 ("The Grail") when explaining Mimbari beliefs on God.

[LordGodsServant]

Here's my view on it using G'Kar's words:

If I shine a light on the wall a bright light will appear there. Too often we assume, that because we are the only one's able to search for truth, that we are God, or that there is no God. But in fact, if we search long enough, our small light will be swallowed up by the greater light that is God. Then we see that our ability to search for truth isn't something that makes us God, but is a gift from God meant to be used to discover him.

[ArM00geddon]

@LordGodsServant So God is a light switch?

[LordGodsServant]

@ArM00geddon haha, I suppose within the context of the metaphor he is a light without compare, without a "switch" per say.

[ArM00geddon]

@LordGodsServant I was joking =|

[LordGodsServant]

@ArM00geddon I know, that was why I laughed

[MrNoknownidentity]

his class do not share the same views, he believes that we should continue to search for god although we do not know him or know his words or his location, so we cannot know truth, the class forced him to say [because they are idiots] that god is an object we can see and understand and that his words are the only truth, that they are the truth [to please the class, to stop their mind fuck] he is forced to let the class hear what they want to hear, letting his believes be ignored by them [FOOLS]

[evil99019]

WTF? I look to the right in the suggestion column, and I see this, lol

Suggestions * [Lucky ☆ Star - OP Full Dance (らき☆すた)] 2:02 Add to Added to queue Lucky ☆ Star - OP Full Dance (らき☆すた)

[fatibel42]

Babylon 5 explored religion with such depth and breadth that no other series ever has. I've been told that Strazynski is himself an athiest, but he incorporated religion into every major race on B5 because he recognized that religion and the search for God are part of the human condition. Ironic that he would be the one to do it best. Maybe it takes an outside view to see it so clearly.

[nephozo]

G`kar makes you think!

. a video like this is very dangerous in these times

when all you are supposed to do is work and watch propaganda TV

[andcbwk]

@nephozo Very true. Things haven't changed much since the Roman Empire or medieval times we just don't care/realize it and think we have a great life.

[vascoa]

I think his class didn't get the point of the speech...

his reply in the end was just to shut them up LOL...

[hendrickx88]

@vascoa It's possible. But both Confucius and Siddhartha used that method over and over again. It could be to get people to shut up, but it could also be meant to get a person to think, rack their mind over something.

[vascoa]

@hendrickx88

Yes, but the ending of the discussion was disappointing to me..

There he is speaking of our will to personify a nonexistent power. There he is speaking of our need to characterized optimism and depression/fears, while defending that to improve ourselves we must accept the good with the bad with optimism to change things instead of looking into the light directly for solutions.

and in the end the miss use of the word "truth", river and river mouth end with totally random concepts

[vascoa]

@hendrickx88

I mean random to the discussion at hand.

The fact such answers might have been used by historical personalities/philosophers to give people something to think as a punch line to the discussion, ignores the fact that all his students seem to have understood was what they wanted to hear. Which is truth flowing into god, or god spewing truth

Such and ending seems a total fail to his class

I would agree with a punch line to think about what he said, if it were inline with the previous

[dkerris]

When we are born there is no meaning or purpose to our lives.

We live, and in living (and how we live) WE create the meaning of our lives.

Our journey is our purpose.

And, though it shouldn't have to be said, our journey and the meaning of our lives are different from everyone elses.

We are unique in that we will all travel a different road.

We are the same in that we will travel a road.

[DreamsofMajesty]

scribd (dot) com/nb812

[McDarwin1889]

THE BEST SCIFI EVER!!! Fuck retards with stupid LOST... BABYLON 5 WIN

[Valen123456]

"what is truth and what is God" ... there was a Narn who didnt bring a lamp with him and expected G'Kar to just give him an answer

[SunDown419]

too many get caught up staring at the light on the wall.too many think they are the center of the universe..too many forgot to bring their lanterns..but it's ok.Mine is bright enough to share.

[RaYBaSHKatan]

Don't agree 100% but he does say some very awesome, true and profound things. He is my most favorite character on B5

[videosauce]

I love how G'Kar sort of just freestyles it at the end there, but still ends up sounding brilliant! (Because he IS!)

[chrisalexander21]

I think that Bibles should be burned. Get people to listen to G'kar. The philosophy he preaches makes much more sense.

R.I.P Andreas

[dex1142]

If you like that approach, take a look at Adi Shankara's works.

[F0reseer]

@chrisalexander21

I doubt the philosophy that G'Kar teaches should incite anyone to "burn" books sacred to a certain group of people. Destroying any one voice defeats the very purpose of "illuminating the wall in all its beauty and all its flaws" wouldn't you think?

[Tekka]

@chrisalexander21 I think it's foolish to burn something you've never read or understood. ;)

[ElegantPaws01]

No need to burn it. It says and the other hallowed works of absolute brilliance, the very same thing. They all seek the mouth of the river....in allegory. The truth. You know for me the very best line remains, paraphrasing..."God looks remarkable like us." Well duh...

Absolutely brilliant writing!

[funkmystar]

Of course it is that was my point the woman would confuse the fuck out of me . Please excuse my ignorance I strive to be as insightful as you

[funkmystar]

Wish g'kar would have been my RE teacher back over 20 years ago, my re teacher was a fanatic who told me that disabled babies were born that way to see if they were worthy of going to heaven.

[hollowman742]

Its pointless to try and find meaning in something as meaningless as the universe and our lives for that matter. Our brains have evolved to find patterns and meaning in things where no patterns or meaning exist. People are fools who find comfort in superstition, science or some other belief system. People live their lives in fear of what we don't understand and try to kid ourselves that we understand a little to make life easier. We know nothing, not even ourselves to think otherwise is just ego

[Halo4Lyf]

You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity.

[ravenprince]

Although i agree with most of what you say, hell even the ancient greek philosophers said that the only certainty we have is we know nothing. And yes there is a large possibility that we are exist by random chance and there is no god. But lighten up a bit, even if it is futile enjoy life its all we have even if its a pile of shit its OUR pile of shit.

[osaka35]

did you just lump science in with superstition, and both of those into religion? that's kinda ignorant.

[osaka35]

sorry, meant that as a reply. youtube doesn't want me to for some reason. amazing and beautiful video.

just because we see patterns in everything doesn't mean that a lot of those patterns don't exists. science is there to help define what is a pattern and what isn't, regardless of our sight.

[hollowman742]

@osaka35 only to the extent to when people place faith in it, and in turn turn it into something it's not. Scientology is an extreme example of this. Other examples include strands within the New Atheist movement. I won't patronise you by telling you what science should be.

[osaka35]

@hollowman742 ahh, so you mean when people merely put complete faith into something and assume someone else has done the work. However, I still don't believe science, or rather what science should be, should be equated to superstition and religion. Though i suppose this wasn't your intent.

[brav0wing]

Delenn also states it beautifully in the episode "a distant Star": "The universe puts us in places where we can learn. They may not be easy places, but always they are right. Wherever we are, whatever we do. It is the right place, and the right time...We are the Universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out"

[funkmystar]

why is it when i watch this clip it makes perfect sense but when i try to remember it i'm perfectly lost

[ElegantPaws01]

Because Funkmystar, when you hear it, it resonates as truth on the very deepest level. When you are away from it, you begin to think too hard about it, instead of EXPERIENCING IT, in that moment. Practice, practice, practice ;)

You know it. Just don't think it to death. Live it!

[ThaRealElTigra]

Greatest philosophy on the series - G'Kar explains about Truth and God.

[Mality]

Wow...intelligent discussion on Youtube! Using complete words and sentences!

More than anything else, this may be the ultimate tribute to the power of Babylon 5!

Thanks to all who participate...

[proadmin1]

We strive to try.

[ElegantPaws01]

Tears in eyes...that is WRITING!

[chrisalexander21]

Its funny. There is that saying that goes along the line of '' there is a fine line between genius and madman ''..

G'Kar sums that up to a T

We miss you andreas!

[mjr256]

I love this clip. Every time I try talking to the deeply religious, I come out feeling just as frustrated as G'Kar at the end of this scene.

We miss ya, Andreas.

[ravenprince]

For some reason I always come back to this clip and everytime I do I find new answers and new questions. I shouldn't be suprised by this because they are such big and profound questions. Years ago I would of said that truth and god is simply what you believe. I confess there are times I use "its all relative" answer because its simple and attractive and doesn't offend anyone - well not sane people anyway.

[ravenprince]

But as I get older I find this less satisfying and find myself yearning for a greater truth. I suppose you can call me an athiest who has a crisis of faith because "its all relative" no longer seems enough for me. I went through a phase recently when I thought the only truth is in mathamatics - until I began to read about string theory and the like and found even in maths, there can be more than one truth.

[ravenprince]

Questions such as "who are you?" and "What is truth?" annoy the hell out me, because they are simple questions that demand a simple answer. Most ppl I ask seem to have the edges of an answer but can't quite full grasp them. G'kar here tells us here is that the search and the motives for it can more important than the answer. But what I want to ask is what if the ultimate answer is "there is no truth and no meaning and no purpose, there is only the abyss" what then?

[FistedInfant]

if it helps you better understand the world than take comfort in that truth : )

[proadmin1]

Well, then, we are left with the choices we make. The questions are simple, but they are so profound, I suspect you can spend a lifetime searching for the answers. Moreover, I suspect that upon finding an answer that worked for you, it might be unhelpful were you to explain your understanding.

In this way, I am reminded of another movie Solaris, where Kelvin asks "What's going on here?", Snow's reply was "I could tell you what's going on...but I'm not sure that would tell you what's going on."

[ravenprince]

If you believe in determinism even our freedom to to make choices is in question. The problem of truth reminds me of a what buddha said about suffering. We suffer because of our desires, we can never fulfil our desires because the world is always changing. Perhaps we cannot know truth because the world is always changing. If thats the case we cannot know ourselves.... just a thought

[Nietzsche68]

There is no inherent purpose, meaning or truth to life. We are all born with none of these things. This is what we call Existential Atheism. We are born without a purpose, a meaning to life. Our choices, our actions and our responsibilities dictate our meaning and purpose. We are the sole creators of our purpose and existence. There is no objective meaning or purpose, only a subjective one provided by the doer. :) :)

[ravenprince]

Thats an answer I would expect from someone with the handle of Nietzsche, I hope you don't have his ego :) I used to love Nietzsche, devoured every word written by him and about him when I was in college along with Hume and Schopenhauer. Learned the value of questionis everything from each of them. Although on reflection I got the most out of David Hume.

[Nietzsche68]

Na, I dont have his ego :). Then again, his ego could be the one thing that drove him.

[LunicInformer]

@Nietzsche68 amen!!!

[ShellySummers]

@Nietzsche68 deep very cool ^)^

[Zedul]

@Nietzsche68 You sound pretty certain for someone who cannot possibly know if what you are saying is true or not. Your words are just an idea, not a terrible one, but just an idea. When you understand you don't have the truth you can better get along with other people.

[BloodnoktheLesser]

@Nietzsche68 If this is true, then it follows that any one of these subjective purposes is just as valid as the next one. It then follows that the self-given purpose of a murderer, rapist, or tyrant is as valid as that of anyone else. Your own argument necessitates such a conclusion.

And please don't claim that these purposes are valid only if they do not infringe on those of others, because -that- implies an -objective- moral imperative not to harm others -- ie, the Golden Rule.

[TouchedProductions]

It's spelled MINBARI.

[7ych0]

I've seen this scene four ot five times before, but I think just now I undertand it's meaning.

"God is no being, but the purpose within ourself to gain deeper understanding of the world. In searching for understanding, we power this purpose within us."

It also fits well with the mimbari veneration of people on the search for wisdom, even if their search seems silly. It's the genuine desire for knowledge that matters to them.

As the director is a "devout atheist", it really makes sense.

[proadmin1]

Bingo

[peskylisa]

I agree. I wish they taught this.

[JarlFrank]

Ah, Babylon 5, the most wonderful SciFi series ever to come to TV. No other show ever became that deep... BSG is quite deep sometimes, too, but not on B5 levels. Too bad the really good series get only 4 to 5 seasons, while the popular scifi series with multiple spinoffs are almost always shallow.

[7ych0]

I think season 5 seems not to really fit into the whole of the series. It seems the firsts four form a single great work, which is wonderful, but once the story is told, you must not try to continue it, because it will ruin the greatness of the whole (gee, I sound like G'Kar here ^^). B5 wasn't canceled, it was just finished.

[JarlFrank]

Well, the fifth season is still pretty awesome. I especially like the relationship between G'Kar and Londo, the problems the Alliance is faced with etc...

And the ending of Season 5 also seems to be kinda open, with the Drakh still planning their evil deeds etc...

And it would've been interesting to see how Vir became emperor.

[Forfeitdemeanor]

Great message, I didnt remember it, unfortunaly.

Guess Ill have to watch the show again.

[proadmin1]

Why do I suspect that this is how it has always been, the enlightened ideal and the compromise.

[Lihinel]

I am glad someone uploaded this great scene.

Thank you very much.

[nightflyer28]

One of my favorite scenes in the whole series - thanks for posting it!

[rupertbishop]

I admire this writing very much!

[Grinlore]

For me this is one of those great revelation moments. I remember seeing this on TV when i was 16 or 17 and it really helped shape my view of the world.

For some reason what G'Kar says about the discovery of truth and god being the result of the search made perfect sense to me. Another profound B5 moment

[chachieb]

You may find Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" a joy to read.

[ajaxlastlastlast]

"Yes I do!" That delivery just makes G'Kar's so painfully poignant. Teacher and student who just doesn't get it.

[metalpsalm]

Veritas Liberat

[mightyrontor]

In Risu Veritas

[MathewGSmith]

This is an an almost exact Sagan quote. Actually, most of the philosophy of the show was at least close to something Sagan had to say. The most obvious is Delenn's "star-stuff" speech in the pilot. Given that JMS is an avowed Humanist, as Sagan was, this is not surprising.

[thrawn323]

What is truth and what is god? truth and god are a varied expeieriance in perception for all of us so the answer is never the same. Even if the question is.

[ravenprince]

Notice that they didn't really hear his explanation of truth and god. Have they already made up their mind?

[mightyrontor]

No. He tried to teach them calculus when they came there to learn long division. =)

[Houses0nfire]

they didn't want to learn, what they really wanted was validation. That is why what he said at the end pleased everyone, because it's so vague that they all can reconcile it with their own beliefs.

oh and, what he said about god also applies to truth: sometimes we stand in front of the light, and truth looks astonishing like our version of it.  -i didnt get that at first, hope it helped

[Bigeasy98]

The best thoughts on god I've ever heard. What a shame it game from a sci-fi TV show and not some great philosopher or prophet.

[chinashopjada]

um I would say that Sci-fi is a much better place to hear these truths from rather than a philosopher or prophet for most people would not listen or hear it coming from a real person...but put it on TV & they will believe it without question....sad perhaps but true

[Grinlore]

Sagan was neither a prophet or philosoper. He was a cosmologist. He also was on TV. He had a show called "The Universe".

Just thought u may be interested to know this.

[chinashopjada]

@Grinlore didnt say Sagan was a prophet or philosoper....I said

Sci-fi is a much better place to hear these Truths from rather than a philosopher or prophet (not that the person who said this was one of the two)

Also I know who Carl Sagan is dude...who doesn't

[GkarsEye]

I disagree Bigeasy. There's a lot more to the genre then ships blowing up, aliens, and lasers. The entire point of the genre of science fiction is to explore - not just the universe around us - but humanity - what it is to live at all - what it is to be human. It's a shame that peolpe such as yourself degrade the genre of sci-fi simply because it's on a visual medium.

[proadmin1]

They say life is where you make it, This is a good message, and if it takes a bunch of actors in Narn suits to bring it to the world. I'll take it.

[thejohnsmith]

Well said.We live in a world which is a random place, good things happen to bad people, things seem to be random and have no explanation. This scares a lot of people, and is the reason why people make up beleifs to try and take away the fear, and have something nice to beleive in... but unfortunatly, it is just a delusion, it has no evidence to support it. The sooner people realise that, the better, and we can all work together to try improve our lives in the REAL world.