Chapter 3 Plato
How is Platonic philosophy distinct from Socratic philosophy How is Platonic philosophy distinct from Socratic philosophy? What is Platonic idealism? What is the significance of the Divided Line analogy? What is the significance of Plato’s Cave Myth? Who are the Philosopher Kings? Why was Plato suspicious of artists? Why was Plato hostile to democracy?
PLATO The most influential follower of Socrates, producing a vision of reality that is still appealing today.
A whispered divergence… Early writings Later writings Doubting that human intelligence can settle grand metaphysical questions…. Grand metaphysical questions can be answered…
Can we know the governing principles of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE…?
Socrates vs. Plato Socrates Plato Clearing the ground of unsubstantiated beliefs and false dogma Rebuilding an edifice of knowledge on Socratic foundations
How would you prefer to learn? With Socrates…. ….or from Plato? WHY?
What stays the same, immutable and unshakable, from which all other things come into being? But if the ultimate foundation supports everything, even those that are contradictory, it will have no inherent characteristics of its own.
A Platonic Puzzle BUT….. How can we know anything about an underlying substance that is beyond our sensory comprehension?
Have you been fooled? Have you ever been fooled by your senses? If so, why do you trust them? What else could you use to provide you with information about the universe?
Which is more sophisticated? The physical sciences The abstract sciences Geology? Geometry?
The Divided Line
Escape from your senses! How can mathematics and geometry help you to free your mind?
THE FORMS
What stands behind? Space stands behind the phenomena of the physical world.... …so what stands behind the world of mathematics?
Would you pursue Truth if it were ugly Would you pursue Truth if it were ugly? So, what must stand with Truth as a fundamental Form?
How do these relate to each other harmoniously? TRUTH BEAUTY
One Form to bind them all… The three Forms of Truth, beauty, and Justice need to be unified…. …which Form can accomplish this crucial task?
The GOOD Which part of the physical universe would you draw on to characterize this Form, and why? Do you agree or disagree with Plato here?
Imagine… Imagine that you have a friend who simply cannot understand why you like the music you enjoy. How could you get her to appreciate your taste? Are you engaging in Platonic education? How?
The Myth of the Cave
THE CAVE Imagine that you come across people chained in a Cave, staring at walls, transfixed by shadows. Would you pity such people—or want to join them?
REALLY? (What do you think this class is…?) If you were given the chance to escape the Cave.. …..would you take it? REALLY? (What do you think this class is…?)
Plato’s Perfect Republic How would you organize a perfectly just society?
A Political Problem Would it bother you that most people are ignorant of the Truth? If not, who should rule? If so, would you trust them to participate in running the Republic?
The Body Politic Wouldn’t it be a good idea to arrange society so that everyone is in the social class in which they could best pursue their own ideals?
Dangerous Democracy Couldn’t democracy lead to the “tyranny of the majority”? Moreover, if the majority are ignorant…. Isn’t this danger very, very real?
Censorship? If democracy is dangerous because of the desires of the masses, shouldn’t we try to control them for the sake of social harmony?
Unchecked Power? If you still think that democracy is a good thing, what do you think of people who have a lot of social power, even though they are not elected? Who might have such power in today’s society? Should we curtail it?
Wonder and Distress If we feel wonder at the possibility of finding the Truth….. … should we not also feel distress at the recognition that we are separated from it?