Plato Flashcards
Who was plato?
Ancient Greek philosopher. His work influenced the development of philosophy through the western world.
What are the weaknesses of Plato?
Doesn’t fit in with Christianity
Goes against the nature of society
What is the world of the forms?
Non-changing, non-physical, eternal, perfect, intelligible.
What’s the allegory of the cave?
It represents people who believe that knowledge comes from what we see and hear in the world - the cave shows the beliefs of empirical knowledge. And they are trapped in a cave of misunderstanding.
What’s a priori?
Is known as mind alone and whose truth is not dependant on the facts of this world.
What is empiricism?
The view that all truth is dependent, directly or indirectly on what can be known through sense experience. Empiricist are sceptical about the possibility of a priori knowledge of things that exist.
Why did Plato think we wasn’t experiencing the world correctly?
Because he thought our minds are trapped in a state of ignorance, which is why we only experience the imperfect transient, ever changing things.
What is a particular?
The objects of everything experience.
What do the prisoners represent?
Us
What does the cave represent?
Our reality
What do the chains represent?
Our minds in a state of ignorance.
What do the shadows represent?
Objects we experience (particulars).
What does the prisoner who escapes represent?
A philosopher
