10,000 years ago, Man lived in caves following their instinct with little knowledge; today, we have the most sophisticated understanding of our environment ever in the history of man. Yet, British popular culture feasts on feral impulses, such as mouthiness, exhibitionism, binge-drinking and child criminality, as opposed to achievements and intelligence. More than two millennia have passed since Plato coined the image of prisoners tied up in a cave mistaking shadows for reality to represent the human preference for diversion over difficult truth. He could not have known how prescient this image was. In today's world of TV and gratification, where celebrities represent our standard of ultimate success and media are our guide through reality, Plato's image is more relevant than ever in history. In this insightful look at the icons of modern culture, Anthony O'Hear investigates what has happened to our society, now that Plato's figure of speech has become a reality supported by a whole branch of industry. Weaned on a diet of visual stimulants, is our society disconnecting itself further and further truth? In a cross between John Gray's "Straw Dogs" and Francis Wheen's "How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World", media philosopher Anthony Hear argues that modern culture is creating a world of ideas in which truthfulness, responsibility, talent and achievements have started to mean less and less.

Praise for Anthony O'Hear's most recent publications 'Impassioned and impressive.' John Gray, Independent 'Lucid... elegant and at times moving.' Sunday Telegraph 'Profound, subtle and brilliantly argued.' Spectator 'Trenchant.' Choice 'Restores philosophy to its central place.' Roger Scruton 'Vital, necessary and erudite.' Bryan Appleyard

Anthony O'Hear is Professor of Philosophy at Buckingham University. He makes regular appearances on national radio programmes such as the BBC 4's Today and BBC Radio 3's Nightwaves and The Culture Programme. He has written many books on education, morality, and public policy, including What Philosophy Is (Penguin) and Beyond Evolution (OUP). Anthony O'Hear lives in Richmond, Surrey.