Plato Flashcards
What does a priori mean
Using reason to get a conclusion
What does a posteriori mean
Using empirical evidence to get a conclusion
What is Plato’s theory of the forms
The idea that everything in the world has a perfect form or existence in a separate world
Which way does Plato obtain his conclusion
A priori
What are the two worlds in Plato’s theory of the forms
The world of forms and the material world
What is Plato’s famous quote
Everything tangible flows
What is the most important form
The form of the good
What form does everything have within it
The form of the good
What analogy does Plato use to illustrate his theory of the forms
The analogy of the cave
What does the cave represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
The visible material world
What do the prisoners represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
Humans
What does the freed prisoner represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
Philosophers and humans who understand the theory of the forms
What do the shadows represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
Everything in the material world that we sense
What does the outside world represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
The world of forms
What does the escape from the cave represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
The acknowledgment that everything is not real
What does the return to the cave represent in Plato’s analogy of the cave
Philosophers trying to educate humans
What does the sun represent in the theory of the cave
The form of the good
Do David Hume and Richard Dawkins support Plato and why
They oppose him. Because the talk of transcendent is meaningless. Ideas of the physical world are counter intuitive and the physical world has empirical evidence
What does counterintuitive mean
It goes against rational sense
Why does Plato say we shouldn’t trust our senses
They are inferior
What could counter Plato’s idea of our senses
We use them for survival and they give us a better understanding of the world around us
Expand on the argument that Plato lacks clarity
It’s not clear how the world of forms relates to our world. Do the forms relate to specific materials (breeds). Is there an ideal form of cancer
Are John Locke and Bertrand Russel against Plato and why
Oppose him because it’s not logical for there to be a world we can’t see. Our reality is based on sensory evidence not reason
Are the logical positivist in support of Plato and why
Against. There’s no absolute value (subjective). People have their own opinions. Two people wouldn’t come to the same conclusion as to what good is
Is infinite regression in favour of Plato and why
Against. Is there an ideal form of the ideal form. Makes the theory seem less plausible
What is infinite regression also knows as
The third man argument
Is Mel Thompson against Plato and why
Against. The cave doesn’t reflect the world we inhabit. The analogy and theory are ineffective. People can’t relate to the analogy as easily
