Ancient philosophical influence Flashcards
What does Plato use the analogy of the cave for?
That most of us do not understand reality because we rely on our senses. Plato emphasises the importance to rely on reason, which is called rationalism. The cave also explains Platos theory of the forms.
what does the… represent:
-sun
-cave and the superiority of the real world vs cave
- the prisoners ridiculing the other
- the highest form, the form of the good. This is the form that illuminates all other forms - it enables the forms to be know through reason
-The cave is the lesser world, the wold we live in. Just as the world outside the cave is superior to being inside the cave, Plato is suggesting that using reason is superior to and more reliable than using senses.
-That we can often be reluctant to use reason instead of relying on our senses.
Evaluate the usefulness of Plato’s cave analogy
(+)shows that our senses can deceive us
(+)Better to use reason as our senses trap us
weakness of Platos theory of the forms
-the material world is all we can know and have evidence of. Senses are important to help us learn and survive
Aristotle’s four causes
*Material - describes the matter or substance something is made from
*Efficient - How it came to exist
*Formal - How we know what something is, its shapes and characteristics
*Final - the telos or purpose, why this object is there
Weaknesses of Aristotles four causes
(-)Hume argues that we may be able to observe two processes that we call cause and effect, but this does not necessarily mean that the effect was a result of the cause, simply that both are observed. (flaw of the efficient cause?)
(-)Purpose does not have to be intrinsic - purpose is given to the object by its creator. Purpose is a human construct, some things have many purposes or purposes change and some things don’t have a purpose
(-)Evolution - formal causes can change, small physical adaptions.
(-)Not everyone will agree on what a ‘formal cause’ is, it is difficult to define and be certain which characteristics are essential to an object to make it what is it. Not everyone will agree on the idea of a soul as the formal cause - what makes me ‘me’.
(-)There is not material cause of colours or concepts such a beauty. Plato argues true knowledge comes from the non-physical world of the forms. We recognise the Form of beauty in physical things.
Aristotle’s prime Mover
Things within the world exhibit continuous motus. This movement results in change because things are being drawn towards the final cause. Aristotle explain that the reason for this continuous change was the ultimate final cause, the immutable PM. The PM is the final cause of movement because it draws things towards itself, without doing anything itself.
-Aristotle calls this PM a ‘god’ but it is very different to the God of religious believers. The PM is the only example of pure actuality, it has no potential to change and is absolute goodness. It cannot know of the existence of the physical world because this might cause a reaction or change, so the PM must only contemplate itself, perfection.
Weaknesses of Aristotle’s Prime Mover
(-)Aristotle cannot observe the PM through empirical evidence/senses. He has moved into rationalism, away from empiricism and is using reason instead of the senses and so is subject to the same criticism as Plato. The Form of The Good is not part of this material world so it is better to use reason to work out the truth.
(-)Advances in science provide a better explanation to motus ad change - Gravity provides a better explanation for motion. For example the rotation of planets. This leads to further questions in the accuracy of Aristotle’s view, which may undermine all his views and suggest that rationalism provides a better way of thinking.
(-)The form of the Good also provides an explanation to why there is change in the world. It is because things change and decay but participate in the perfect and eternal world of the Form of the Good, which is immutable.
