Ancient Influences Flashcards
does plato agree with a-priori or a-posteriori
a priori -
truth can only be understood by reason because our experiences cannot be trusted
who taught plato - why is this significant
socrates - was killed so in platos books he says socrates says these things but it may have been plato
word for imperfect imitations of forms
particulars
what did heraclitus say
everything is in a constant state of change
a man cannot step in the same river twice because both will have changed
how does Plato attempt to respond to the problem of constant change that Hericlitus brings up
that true knowledge cannot be gained empirically and must look to a-priori instead
how does Aristotle attempt to respond to the problem of constant change that Hericlitus brings up
can understand mechanism responsible for change and gain true knowledge from that
What does plato mean by there being a permanent truth
there must a similar unchanging truth about objects in our world – for example, if we examine
lots of chairs, we would see that despite their differences, there is something that they have in common.
how does plato explain abstract forms
Equally, there may be many beautiful things, and there is one thing they have in common – the Form or idea of beauty. These
ideas/ commonalities that we cannot easily define (such as beauty) actually do exist, according to Plato, as Forms.
explain the hierarchy of forms
top is form of good because by udnertsanding that you can do no wrong
then abstract ideas, then individudal objects such as chairs
what qualities should a ruler have, according to plato
a philosopher with understanding of the form of good - since they can do no wrong
how does artsitole criticise platos argument that knowing form of good makes you a perfect person
takes more than knowing something to be morally good - many ppl know that right thing to do but still ignore it
assumes all bad ppl r just ignorant but many criminals will repeat crimes even after prison
aristotle on the form of good
isnt logical
forms of good can be so diff - form of the good in military strategy is how to efficiently kill people, whereas the good in medicine is how to keep people alive
Aristotle takes this to mean that there cannot be one unified form of ‘goodness’.
what does the sun represent in platos cave
form of good
what does plato say to the criticism he has no evidence
good - doesnt bother him because he doesnt accept a-posteriori evidence
platos cave: when the enlightened man comes down, what do these prisoners rejecting him represent
- the way philosophers are mocked
could reference socrates death
