Plato Flashcards
understand reality vs the cave analogy and world of forms
Who is known for laying the foundations of western philosophy and science?
Plato
Greek philosopher who made significant contributions to various fields of knowledge.
What is the philosophy that emphasizes the use of reason to discover true reality?
Rationalist
Rationalism is a philosophical approach that prioritizes reason as the primary source of knowledge.
What is the analogy of the cave?
Prisoners trapped inside a cave, one dares to go outside to find a world of sunlight, he travels back to tell the other prisoners who are chained what he has found. They do not believe him
What is the significance of the analogy of the cave?
-Everyone has a different perception of reality- one prisoner set free dazzled by sunlight - discovers outside world - other prisoners do not believe him
Hidden messages- chains- refusal to accept things outside of our reality.
wants to convince us that the physical world around us is an illusion- we should therefore train ourselves to look beyond the realm of experience to reason.
Why is Plato dissatisfied with reality.
The physical world is in a constant state of motion even static and solid objects are growing and decaying
the realness of something does not depend on it remaining unchanged
we can no longer be sure that our experience of the world around us is accurate
What is Plato’s dualistic view of reality
Horotan- world of senses - shadow or reality -meaningless based on opinions - changing and imperfect
neoton- world of intellect - true reality - unchanging and perfect - discovered through reaosn
To escape horaton (material world) we must become philosophers and challenge/question appearences.
What is the Horotan?
World of senses, shadow or reality, meaningless based on opinions, changing and imperfect
Represents the material world experienced through the senses.
What is the Neoton?
World of intellect, true reality, unchanging and perfect, discovered through reason
Represents the realm of true knowledge and understanding.
To escape the Horotan, what must one become?
Philosophers
This involves challenging and questioning appearances.
Fill in the blank: The Horotan is characterized as _______.
changing and imperfect
Fill in the blank: The Neoton is characterized as _______.
unchanging and perfect
True or False: The Neoton can be discovered through sensory experience.
False
The Neoton is discovered through reason, not the senses.
What does the term ‘shadow or reality’ refer to?
Horotan
Suggests the ambiguity and subjectivity of sensory experiences.
What does kant say about empiricism?
Empiricism cannot give us accurate information about the world around us because we can never sense the world as it really is - blinded by thoughts and feelings.
How does Dawkins view the analogy of the cave?
Plato’s understanding of the cave represents ways in which philosophy can lead us to a true understanding of reality but not an accurate perception of the physical world
DAWKINS - real knowledge comes from empirical testing - matter of opinion is the two worlds exist.
What is the world of shadows?
Shadows created by senses- even if we see things it doesn’t mean they are the whole truth of reality.
when a pen is put in water it looks bent but in reality it is straight- our senses can decieve us
What does Plato argue our senses tell us?
what our senses tell us is relative to the individual, they cannot be trusted to tell us the truth
seen as an argument for understanding reality as he explains how our senses can create what we believe to be beautiful just as they can create what we believe to be reality.
What is Descartes view on Plato’s approach to understanding reality?
RATIONALIST - SUPPORTER OF PLATO
Agreed we have concepts that exist in the mind first and then help us to construct reality
however -
believed these ideas existed in the mind rather than in an independent reality elsewhere.
Mind and soul oppose each other mind wishes to develop its knowledge and reach an understanding of true reality whereas the body distracts itself with physical desires.
Plato’s theory of the forms?
Plato calls it the world of forms. True knowledge can only be gained from the world of forms. It is a perfect world that exists alongside ours - the world of shadows.
Cannot be detected by the senses - only way we recognise them is if they are in the world of forms.
Dogs are of all different breads but we recognise them as dogs because of distinguishing features seen in the world of forms - essence of doginess
Opposition to Theory of forms
- Not clear on what exists in the world of forms - Does it mean that the world of forms holds negative forms i.e the form of disease or cancer
- ## No proof of the theory of forms or another world existing
Plato’s form of the good?
- Highest form - symbolised as SUN - it illuminates everything around it the sum makes things knowable and it is the true source of everything and other forms. Knowledge of the good is the highest form of knowledge a human is capable of.
What does popper say?
Why can’t true reality change?
Why does Plato need to create another reality to deal with the uncertainty that we all face.
Intransient and transient worlds?
There must be a transient and intransient world - links to the idea of two worlds shows how we must use reason to discover the intransient world.
PLATO 1
THEORY OF CAVE - world of forms - senses can decieve us reason does not
only recognise things if they are in the world of forms- seen through the world of shadows
- even if we see things does not mean they are true of reality.
-Pen put in water looks bent when out it is straight
-Both a transient and intransient world exists, neoton and horoton
we need reaosn to discover the intransient world
PLATO 2
Cannot rely on senses because we are decieved by them
theory of cave difficult to understand - supports reason
Prisoners refusal to accept anything out of reality is an attempt to convince people that the physical world around us is an illusion.
we must train ourselves to look beyond the realm of experience
HUMANS ARE DAMNED BY THE FALL - DO NOT TRUST SENSES THEY CAN DECIEVE US - they are corrupt.
