Plato

Question 1

Plato thinks there are two distinct realms in the world, what is this view called and what are these two realms called?

Answer 1

Dualist view, the realm of forms and the realm of appearances.

Question 2

What is the realm of appearances?

Answer 2

The empirical world where things change and decay, it mirrors the realm of forms.

Question 3

What is the realm of forms?

Answer 3

The world of timeless and eternal forms, things here do not change or decay.

Question 4

What are forms and give an example?

Answer 4

All things in the world of sense perception are particular instances of universal Forms. For example, all tables are particular instances of the universal Form of a Table. The Forms are metaphysical/perfect Ideas, they are the essence of a thing.

Question 5

What does Plato believe about the soul and the body being separate?

Answer 5

The soul is a permanent essence of a person which returns to the realm of forms after death, its true home. whereas the body is a temporary physical thing which will change and then decay after death.

Question 6

Plato believes the soul has three parts, what is this view called and what are the three parts?

Answer 6

This is a tripartite view, the three parts of the soul are; reason, emotion and apetite.

Question 7

Plato uses the example of the charioteer in Phaedrus to describe the three parts of the soul. What are the three parts and explain their characteristics?

Answer 7

1)The charioteer - Reason
. Reasonable and rational
.takes charge
.controls other aspects of the soul
2)White Horse - emotion
.Emotional and spirited
.virtue, courage and anger
3)Black Horse - Appetite
.Appetite and desire
.e.g. sex, food and drink