Bartimaeus (“son of Platon’s Timaeus”) casts off his outer garment (himation; philosopher’s cloak) before approaching Christ. This symbolises discarding reliance (faith) on pure rationalism/philosophy. Platonic philosophy, for all its fantastic insight, leaves one spiritually blind to the true Light, as presented by the physical blindness. The blindness is healed by faith in Jesus, who restores order; so the philosopher is no longer blind because he takes up a faith in God’s plan. The healed philosopher then follows Jesus on the Way. Baptised in discipleship of the greatest gift, that of faith, the new creation displaces rigid/blind scientistic thinking as ultimate arbitration without our now faithful philosopher losing experience or knowledge.