Plato

Question 1

Why did Plato believe that you can only find truth in another world

Answer 1

1. Flux of nature
2. Fallibility of senses/illusions
3. Singleness: you only see individual instances of e.g: kindness => can’t see the concept of kindness through these actions

Question 2

What is the analogy of the cave about

Answer 2

• We are trapped in a world of ‘shadows’/particulars, where we are unable to distinguish reality from illusions.
• despite the fact of us yearning for knowledge, most of us chose not to acquire it as it is too painful
• questions how we access truth/know what reality is

Question 3

What do the shadows represent?

Answer 3

An illusion. Things that we mistake for reality

Question 4

What is a form

Answer 4

1. The perfect version of a particular
2. There is only one form of everything
3. A PRIORI

Question 5

What is a particular

Answer 5

1. All particulars are imperfect copies of a form
2. They are contingent and mortal
3. A POSTERIORI

Question 6

Define the form of the good

Answer 6

1. Ultimate source of knowledge and by consequence is the greatest form
2. All other forms are reflections of FoG

Question 7

The meaning of the analogy of the line

Answer 7

1. Foundation of most dualisms
2. AIM: to move from opinion into intellect - opinion is uncertain, knowledge is certain
3. There is a divide between material and ideal (later known as phenomenal and noumenal- Kant)

Question 8

How quantum physics complements Plato

Answer 8

1. At the fundamental level physical existence is fundamentally unpredictable and random
2. Supports Plato as you can’t build knowledge in this world

Question 9

How does Kant support Plato’s analogy of the cave

Answer 9

He believed that there are 2 separate realms of existence:
1. The world of phenomenal (empirical)
2. The noumenal world (spiritual)- God exists here
Doesn’t believe that you can escape from the ‘cave’

Question 10

How does Rene Descartes support Plato’s Theory of Forms

Answer 10

“I think therefore I am” - we have concepts that exist a priori - refers to forms

Question 11

How does Aristotle criticise Plato’s Theory of Forms

Answer 11

Suggested that good comes in so many varieties that there cannot be one form of it

Question 12

How does Karl Popper criticise Platos Theory of Forms

Answer 12

1. Saw Plato as trying to deal with the uncertainties in life
2. Believed science discovered ‘real’ truth

Question 13

How does Dawkins criticise Platos Theory of Forms

Answer 13

1. We can answer all philosophical questions with reference to the empirical world
2. Meme= an inherited memory passed from one generation to another

Question 14

What is the soul made up of and how does it relate to Plato’s analogy of the Charioteer?

Answer 14

Tripartite soul
1. logical (Charioteer)
2. spirited (horse)
3. desire/ appetitive (horse)
Charioteer has to remain in control of spirit and desire to prevent chaos
The soul is the guiding principle/life force

Question 15

How does St. Augustine support Platos Theory of Forms

Answer 15

There are privations (absences) of good ie. no negative things => everything can exist in WoF

Question 16

How does Buddhism support Plato’s analogy of the cave

Answer 16

Believe that true reality exists beyond the physical realm, as physical reality is contingent

Question 17

Criticisms of the analogy of the cave

Answer 17

• analogy rests on the validity of the WoF
• undermines physical world
• our telos is to reach the form of the good, but it is not objective as Plato suggests, because people will fundamentally have different opinions on what constitutes for the FoG