Plato Chapter 2 Flashcards
The forms
Ideal eternal single versions of things found on earth, found in the realm of forms world and wholy spiritual
The form of the good
The highest form brings enlightenment to the rational mind
Empiricism
View that all truth is dependent directly or indirectly what can be known through our senses
7 key people to include in essay
Socrates Empiricists Karl Popper A.J.Ayer Kotarbinski Heraclitus Aristotle Wittgenstein
What was Plato’s view on the soul?
It belongs to the WoF and is trapped in our bodies and wishes to return. Forgets all knowledge of WoF due to amnesia
Plato’s view on knowledge?
It’s innate and we gradually remember WoF as we get older
Aristotle’s objections simple?
Assumes eternity is required for perfection and purity
No one studies the forms
No practical value
Goodness is impossible to define
Strengths of Plato’s theory
Explains imperfection
Possible explanation for evil, just imperfect world
Encourages questioning, doesn’t accept physical as absolute
Recognise ‘dogness’ in all dogs all have bits of the same perfect form
What’s highest form
Form of the good as it brings enlightenment to the rational mind
Objection with a response
It’s an absolutist fixed theory would have to be universal yet no empirical evidence
HOWEVER is it even possible to prove something metaphysical ( a priori ) with empirical/ physical ( a posteri ) evidence
Response to an objection
Quantum mechanics in physics would suggest it is likely to be another dimension to the one we live in
Karl Poppers argument
Plato’s is deterred to find certainty, can’t be found on earth due to continual change so looks to another world to run from difficulties
Wanting another world doesn’t make one exist
A.J.Ayer’s argument
Plato assumes because we have a name or noun for something such as good and beauty there must be something to correspond in reality - primitive superstition
Kotarbinski
Polish philosopher
Develops A.J.Ayers point and terms it primitive superstition
Heraaclitus argument
He was fascinated with change
No man can step in the same river twice
Plato agrees but says that’s why there must be another world
Empiricists argument
Must be based on sense experience and Plato’s view is no so there is no empirical evidence
Infinite regress argument
Infinite number of possible forms due to everything having to have a form such as oneness
Wittgenstein argument
Against dog ness or one over many arguement
Says merley series of overlapping characteristics, no one thing specific
Issues with allegory of the cave
4
Why should philosophers rule if only a shadow world
Suggest senses are not reliable - even if true they are essential for survival
doesn’t offer prof of Eelam of forms
Guilty of elitism - philosopher is not completely different to ordinary people
Key messages of cave
Metaphysics - what is real
Epistemology - how do we gain knowledge - shows why senses are bad
Politics - who should rule? Philosophers only ones who have true knowledge
Ethics - what is good? Philosophers know what goodness is
