SPHAIROS

SPHAIROS

Philosophical meetings in the places of Empedocles

Scientific Direction: Alfonso Maurizio Iacono

Artistic Direction: Giovanni Taglialavoro

This symbol, representing the human condition imprisoned in the shadows of ignorance and illusion, intertwines with Pirandello's story Ciàula Discovers the Moon, set in the underground world of the mines, where darkness opens up to the wonder of light. In the current context, marked by a fragmented and unjust reality, the myth of the cave reveals itself to be more relevant than ever. We live in an era dominated by digital connections, but often characterized by isolation, inequalities, and conflicts. The lights and shadows that Plato describes find new meanings in a world submerged by goods and information, where the law sometimes justifies force and consent is manipulated through the language of images and narratives. Yet, where there is an "inside," there is also an "outside." This "outside" represents the possibility of discovering new truths, transcending the boundaries of the known, and learning. Exiting the cave is an act of discovery, but also a dangerous and challenging journey, as both Plato and Pirandello teach us. The heart of the project is precisely this crossing between two worlds: darkness and light, ignorance and knowledge, the cave and the open sky. Through a rich program of meetings and reflections, the event aims to investigate this universal theme with cultural and artistic tools, inviting the public to engage in dialogue with great thinkers and artists. The project unfolds in several stages. After an introductory afternoon, the following two days will be dedicated to master lectures, peripatetic meetings in the places of the Valley of the Temples Park, and talks where speakers of different backgrounds will discuss the theme of the cave and knowledge. The evenings will be enlivened by theatrical performances inspired by the reflections emerged, while Saturday morning will be dedicated to a concluding talk, an opportunity to summarize the debate and share ideas and perspectives emerged during the event.

Among the temples and ideas

Agrigento, with its "future with an ancient heart," is the ideal place to host an initiative that combines philosophical reflection with artistic creativity. This city, birthplace of Luigi Pirandello and celebrated by Empedocles, Plato, and many other thinkers, becomes a place of thought, where the past intertwines with the present to look towards the future. The meeting between the Valley of the Temples and the world of ideas represents an opportunity to transform Agrigento into a center of study and reflection of international scope. The initiative is curated by the Orestiadi Foundation and the 'Pier Paolo Pasolini' Cultural Center, under the scientific direction of Director Alfonso Maurizio Iacono and the artistic direction of Giovanni Taglialavoro. Thanks to their contribution, this project not only celebrates the cultural and philosophical value of the word but aims to highlight Agrigento as a place of connection between past and future, between thought and action. It is an invitation to reflect, to dialogue, and to discover, overcoming the shadows of the cave to meet the light of knowledge.