Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Philosophy > Plato > Flashcards

Plato Flashcards

1
Q

What format did all Plato’s books take?

A

Dialogues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What did Plato believe was wrong with doxa (popular opinion)?

A

It’s riddled with errors, prejudice and superstition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How does Plato see the world?

A

In dual reality with reality in itself: the Realm of the Forms and the material world

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

According to Plato, why can’t material/sensible things ever truly “BE”(/have perfect existence)?

A

Because they are constantly changing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is it to “BE”?

A

To be immaterial, immutable and necessary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Outline the difference between “accidental” and “essence”

A

A thing has an accidental combination of characters which make it a distinct thing but what truly is in this thing is its sharing in the eternal essence of its form

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Compare the material world to reality

A

The material world is imperfect whilst the eternal forms/ideas are reality itself: they are the unchangeable essence of things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How is the Realm of the Forms known?

A

Through reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How is the material realm of particulars known?

A

Through the senses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Outline Plato’s theory on “episteme” and “doxa”

A

Whilst knowledge is infallible and about what is real, opinion/belief is fallible and between knowledge and ignorance.
Plato argued opinion relates to the material realms whilst knowledge refers to the real of the forms.
Therefore forms exist entirely separately to particulars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does Plato’s Cave Allegory represent?

A

The image of the cave represents the ascent of the mind from a realm of mere images to the realm of visible things to the realm of the Forms and finally to the intuition of the Good

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does the cave represent?

A

The world of the senses; empirical realm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what do the prisoners represent?

A

People who believe “second-hand”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what do the images on the wall represent?

A

Illusion (eikasia)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does the fire represent?

A

The (physical) sun; what enables sense experience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does seeing the fire and people on the road represent?

A

Beliefs (pistis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does outside the cave represent?

A

The intelligible world/ realm of the Forms/ reality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does the prisoner dragged outside of the cave represent?

A

The philosopher

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what do the objects outside the cave represent?

A

The Forms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does looking at the reflections of abjects outside the cave represent?

A

Reasoning (dianoia)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does looking at objects outside the cave represent?

A

Intelligence (noesis)

22
Q

In Plato’s Cave, what does the sun represent?

A

The Form of the Good

23
Q

What does Plato use to highlight boundaries between the physical world and the intelligible world?

A

His “Divided Line”

24
Q

Regarding Plato’s Divided Line, what is in the intelligible world (noeta) ?

A 
Mathematical ideas (mathematikia)
Pure Forms (archai)
25
Q

Regarding Plato’s Divided Line, what is in the physical world (doxasta) ?

A

Physical things

Images and shadows (eikones)

26
Q

Regarding Plato’s Divided Line, what does knowledge consist of?

A

Intelligence
Pure thought
Dialect
Mathematical reasoning

27
Q

Regarding Plato’s Divided Line, what does belief consist of?

A

Opinion

Illusion

28
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does the Sun represent?

A

The Form of the Good

29
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does the visible world represent?

A

The intelligible world/ the forms

30
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does seeing represent?

A

Knowing

31
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does the eye represent?

A

The mind/ reason

32
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does the light represent?

A

Truth

33
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does sight represent?

A

Intelligence

34
Q

In Plato’s simile of the Sun, what does growth represent?

A

The being (reality) of the forms

35
Q

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (1)

A

Most perfect gives most pleasure
Knowing ultimate purpose constitutes knowing what is
Need to know what something is “good” for to know what it is
Best version of something is what carries out its purpose the best

36
Q

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (2)

A

Forms are naturally good so without form of the Good they cannot exist
Form of the Good makes forms forms (gives them being and existence)
Existence itself is goof

37
Q

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (3)

A

Most perfect and real
Form of the forms and sustains being of other forms
Forms are perfect so form of the forms is most perfect

38
Q

How can the simile of the sun be interpreted as the form of the Good? (4)

A

Form of the good doesn’t just make other forms knowable but is knowledgeable itself

39
Q

How would Plato’s theory of the soul be best described?

A

Tripartite theroy

40
Q

What are the three parts of the soul?

A

Rational (brain/ ruling class)
Spirited (heart/ soldiers)
Appetitive (stomach/ working class)

41
Q

What does the animal appetites connect to?

A

Bodily urges

42
Q

What does the spirited soul connect to?

A

Moral action

43
Q

What does the rational self connect to?

A

Recognising truth using reason

44
Q

How is Plato’s theory of the soul dualistic?

A

The object of the rational mind is the intelligible realm of the forms; the soul is immortal unchanging
The object of the body’s desires are physical things; the body is physical in a constant state of change

45
Q

Give examples of baser desires

A

Alcohol

Sex

46
Q

Explain Plato’s charioteer allegory

A

The charioteer is the rational self trying to control two horses: desire and spirit
Reason rules, spirit ensures that reason has motivational backing and the appetite is reined in by the rational self
When the Charioteer can control the two horses it’ll be harmonious

47
Q

How does Plato link the soul to the realm of the Forms?

A

The soul pre-exists the body and so remembers the world of the Forms and longs to return to the unchanging world

48
Q

How does Plato link the soul to the Form of the Good?

A

Plato believed in the way an eye needs light to see, the soul needs the Form of the Good to gain real understanding

49
Q

How does Plato’s Argument from the Cycle of Opposites work?

A

Every quality comes into being from its own opposites (e.g. big things wouldn’t be big without small things)
Death must come from life and vice versa
Plato’s thought suggest an endless chain of birth, death and rebirth

50
Q

How does Plato’s Argument from Knowledge work?

A

Most important human knowledge is remembering/ “leading out” what we already know
Knowledge of the forms must be innate and Plato believed gained by our souls before birth and so the soul must pre-exist the body

Philosophy (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions