1) Ancient philosophical influences Flashcards
Who are the two key thinkers in ancient philosophical influences?
Plato (teacher) and Aristotle (student)
Which philosopher supports rationalism? What is it?
- Plato
- The view that the primary source of knowledge is gained through reasoning in the mind (a priori)
Which philosopher supports empiricism? What is it?
- Aristotle
- The idea that observations via our senses lead us to understanding of the world
What does Plato believe about innate knowledge?
- he argued that all truths are innate and they are in us from birth and are part of our rational nature
- for example even though we haven’t experienced absolute beauty or true goodness in the world we all have an innate understanding of what these concepts mean
What is Plato’s analogy of the cave?
Plato’s analogy of the cave illustrates his theory of reality and knowledge. Prisoners in a dark cave mistake shadows on the wall for reality, but one escapes, sees the true world, and understands the Forms (ultimate truth). When he returns to enlighten the others, they reject him, symbolising ignorance and resistance to philosophical wisdom.
What do “the prisoners” represent?
Ordinary people in our world
What does “the cave” represent?
The empirical world that we see and hear around us
What do “the shadows” represent?
Our everyday sense experiences
What does “the escapee” represent?
The philosopher who is able to access knowledge
What does “the difficult ascent” mean?
An illustration that the road to philosophical knowledge is hard
What does “the sun” represent?
The highest of all the Forms, the Form of the Good
What does “the outside world” represent?
The real world, the world of the Forms
What does “the return to the cave” represent?
The philosopher once enlightened feels it is his duty to free and educate the others
What does “the difficulty in adjusting to the darkness” represent?
Once a philosopher knows the truth, it is difficult to experience things as the ordinary person does
What does “the persecution given by the other prisoners” represent?
Like Socrates, who was executed by the leaders in Athens, the philosopher will be ridiculed and threatened
What do “the chains” represent?
The senses that restrict the way we experience things
