PROBLEM 1. PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 1
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Two writing periods
1. Reporting thoughts and methods of Socrates
2. Combining Pythagorean philosophy and the Socratic method
Aim: look for sth permanent as object of knowledge
Plato was a nativist (inborn ultimate truth) regarding knowledge, intelligence and character,
rationalist (mental operations important for arriving at the truth) and idealist (ultimate reality
consist of ideas/forms)
Everything in the empirical world is a manifestation of a pure form
(idea) that exists in the abstract.
e.g. cats are an inferior manifestation of the idea of “catness”
→ Idea interacts with matter and that is why the result is inferior.
Theory of forms or ideas Socrates: definition is the permanent aspect of reality-essence
Plato: essence equated with its form, separate from the
individual manifestations.
Knowledge attained only through reason. (both Socrates and
Plato)
Knowledge only through reason, those that try to gain knowledge
through sensory experiences > doomed to ignorance.
Imagining: lowest form of understanding based on
images( reflections included)
Belief: when confronting visible objects but not knowledge
The analogy of divided line
Thinking: based on mathematical objects, for practical problems
only and relying on definitions.
Intelligence or knowledge: result only from understanding the
abstract forms. “Forms of good” the highest form of wisdom that
includes all other forms and make them knowable-the highest truth.
, PROBLEM 1. PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 2
Plato’s Republic, Allegory tries to compare the consequences of having
education and not having education.
Prisoners in a cave, their only truth is the shadows (Imagining)
One prisoner escapes, his eyes ache but he adjust to the reality in
the end (Understanding of empirical events). He cannot readjust to
the shadows, he would make mistakes and be laughed at, so
The allegory of the cave
everyone that would try to escape the cave would be killed
The prisoners: humans that confuse the sense of experience with reality.
The escaper: human that is governed by reason and not senses, he sees the
real objects (forms) and understands that they are responsible for the
shadows and embraces true knowledge.
When you try to enlighten others you end up being killed.
Pythagorians: Reason is the highest form of knowledge that derives from
the immortal soul.
Plato: Before the soul entered the body, it dwelled in pure knowledge, so it
dwelled among the forms. After entering the body, it was influenced by
The reminiscence theory senses.
of knowledge Theory of reminiscence: All knowledge is innate and can be attained only
through introspection (searching our inner experiences), sensory experience
only can remind the knowledge.
All knowledge comes from reminiscence before the soul entered the
body.
The nature of the soul Three-part soul
\
Plato (427-347 BC)
Two writing periods
1. Reporting thoughts and methods of Socrates
2. Combining Pythagorean philosophy and the Socratic method
Aim: look for sth permanent as object of knowledge
Plato was a nativist (inborn ultimate truth) regarding knowledge, intelligence and character,
rationalist (mental operations important for arriving at the truth) and idealist (ultimate reality
consist of ideas/forms)
Everything in the empirical world is a manifestation of a pure form
(idea) that exists in the abstract.
e.g. cats are an inferior manifestation of the idea of “catness”
→ Idea interacts with matter and that is why the result is inferior.
Theory of forms or ideas Socrates: definition is the permanent aspect of reality-essence
Plato: essence equated with its form, separate from the
individual manifestations.
Knowledge attained only through reason. (both Socrates and
Plato)
Knowledge only through reason, those that try to gain knowledge
through sensory experiences > doomed to ignorance.
Imagining: lowest form of understanding based on
images( reflections included)
Belief: when confronting visible objects but not knowledge
The analogy of divided line
Thinking: based on mathematical objects, for practical problems
only and relying on definitions.
Intelligence or knowledge: result only from understanding the
abstract forms. “Forms of good” the highest form of wisdom that
includes all other forms and make them knowable-the highest truth.
, PROBLEM 1. PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 2
Plato’s Republic, Allegory tries to compare the consequences of having
education and not having education.
Prisoners in a cave, their only truth is the shadows (Imagining)
One prisoner escapes, his eyes ache but he adjust to the reality in
the end (Understanding of empirical events). He cannot readjust to
the shadows, he would make mistakes and be laughed at, so
The allegory of the cave
everyone that would try to escape the cave would be killed
The prisoners: humans that confuse the sense of experience with reality.
The escaper: human that is governed by reason and not senses, he sees the
real objects (forms) and understands that they are responsible for the
shadows and embraces true knowledge.
When you try to enlighten others you end up being killed.
Pythagorians: Reason is the highest form of knowledge that derives from
the immortal soul.
Plato: Before the soul entered the body, it dwelled in pure knowledge, so it
dwelled among the forms. After entering the body, it was influenced by
The reminiscence theory senses.
of knowledge Theory of reminiscence: All knowledge is innate and can be attained only
through introspection (searching our inner experiences), sensory experience
only can remind the knowledge.
All knowledge comes from reminiscence before the soul entered the
body.
The nature of the soul Three-part soul
