L ECTURE 4: P LATO. T ODAY ’ S L ECTURE In today’s lecture we will: 1.Begin our investigation...

LECTURE 4: PLATO

TODAY’S LECTURE

In today’s lecture we will:In today’s lecture we will:

1.1.Begin our investigation into the question of reality (metaphysics)Begin our investigation into the question of reality (metaphysics)

2.2.Briefly consider some theories of realityBriefly consider some theories of reality

3.3.Become introduced to Socrates and PlatoBecome introduced to Socrates and Plato

4.4.Begin our exploration into Plato’s theory of realityBegin our exploration into Plato’s theory of reality

a)a) Plato’s theory of formsPlato’s theory of forms

b)b) Plato’s divided linePlato’s divided line

THE QUESTION OF REALITY

WHAT IS REALITY?

The question of reality (Metaphysics)The question of reality (Metaphysics)

oWhat is reality?What is reality?

oWhat are things made of?What are things made of?

oWhat is the ultimate?What is the ultimate?

oWhat is it that everything depends on for its existence?What is it that everything depends on for its existence?

oWhat is really real?What is really real?

oHow do we distinguish between what is real and what is mere How do we distinguish between what is real and what is mere illusion?illusion?

The problem of the one and the manyThe problem of the one and the many

oWhat is the ultimate reality (the One)?What is the ultimate reality (the One)?

oHow is everything else (the Many) related to the One?How is everything else (the Many) related to the One?

WHAT IS REALITY?

Ontological optionsOntological options

oOntology is the study of what exists, what is real etc.Ontology is the study of what exists, what is real etc.

oOntology is a branch of metaphysics.Ontology is a branch of metaphysics.

oMost theories of reality maintain one of the following ontological Most theories of reality maintain one of the following ontological beliefs:beliefs:

1.1. MonismMonismThe belief that reality is composed of The belief that reality is composed of one one thing.thing.

2.2. DualismDualismThe belief that reality is composed of The belief that reality is composed of two things.two things.

3.3. PluralismPluralismThe belief that reality is composed of The belief that reality is composed of manymany things. things.

4.4. NihilismNihilismThe view that The view that nothing existsnothing exists

WHAT IS REALITY?

What exists? (what counts as a ‘thing’)What exists? (what counts as a ‘thing’)

Hamlet: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Consider whether the following exist. Can they all be reduced to Consider whether the following exist. Can they all be reduced to one thing, two things, many things or nothing?one thing, two things, many things or nothing?

TreesTreesThoughts about treesThoughts about treesThe U.S. ConstitutionThe U.S. ConstitutionBeethoven’s Beethoven’s FifthFifthDelaware Community CollegeDelaware Community CollegeVacuum cleanersVacuum cleanersLoveLoveAtomsAtomsChristianityChristianityHarry PotterHarry Potter

If we took away all particular instances of these things, would they If we took away all particular instances of these things, would they continue existing?continue existing?

WHAT IS REALITY?

Theories of RealityTheories of Reality

Thales of MiletusThales of Miletus

oHeld the ‘monist’ view that reality is Held the ‘monist’ view that reality is one one thingthingoArgued that everything was composed of waterArgued that everything was composed of water

HeraclitusHeraclitus

oMaintained that the only thing that does not change, is change Maintained that the only thing that does not change, is change itselfitselfoBelieved that reality is in a constant state of fluxBelieved that reality is in a constant state of fluxoFamously claimed that we cannot step into the same river twiceFamously claimed that we cannot step into the same river twice

PythagorasPythagoras

oMaintained the supposition that everything was composed of Maintained the supposition that everything was composed of numbersnumbersoAny correct description of reality must be expressed in terms of Any correct description of reality must be expressed in terms of mathematical numbers.mathematical numbers.

ParmenidesParmenides

oClaimed that the world according to the senses is a delusionClaimed that the world according to the senses is a delusion

WHAT IS REALITY?


Modern scienceModern science

oMaintains that reality is composed of: Maintains that reality is composed of:

One thing; One thing; Physical matterPhysical matter

oSeeks to find the most fundamental building block of physical Seeks to find the most fundamental building block of physical matter (the ultimate one):matter (the ultimate one):

Atoms, Frackles, Quarks etc. Atoms, Frackles, Quarks etc. To be continued...To be continued...

oAttempts to understand the relationship between the one and the Attempts to understand the relationship between the one and the manymany

To be continued...To be continued...

WHAT IS REALITY?


Modern scienceModern science

Why might modern science be inadequate at investigating the Why might modern science be inadequate at investigating the question of reality?question of reality?

The modern sciences begin with the assumption that reality is real The modern sciences begin with the assumption that reality is real and composed of at least one thingand composed of at least one thing

Modern science has already made its decision about realityModern science has already made its decision about reality

It is ‘one step’ beyond our current investigationIt is ‘one step’ beyond our current investigation

Could there be a scientific experiment that proves reality is Could there be a scientific experiment that proves reality is composed of one thing?composed of one thing?

For example:For example:Q: What is reality composed of? Q: What is reality composed of? Modern scientists: One thingModern scientists: One thingQ: What is the nature of this one thing?Q: What is the nature of this one thing?Q: How does this one relate to the many?Q: How does this one relate to the many?MS: We continue to conduct scientific investigations into the MS: We continue to conduct scientific investigations into the

nature of physical substancesnature of physical substances

SOCRATES AND PLATO

SOCRATES AND PLATO

SocratesSocrates

o Lived Around 469-399 B.C.E. in Athens, Lived Around 469-399 B.C.E. in Athens,

GreeceGreece

o Executed for Practicing PhilosophyExecuted for Practicing Philosophy

o Wrote Nothing Down and Gave no LecturesWrote Nothing Down and Gave no Lectures

o Viewed Philosophy as a Social ActivityViewed Philosophy as a Social Activity

o Discussed Philosophy with his Fellow Discussed Philosophy with his Fellow

Citizens in the Streets of AthensCitizens in the Streets of Athens

oInteresting for more than his philosophical Interesting for more than his philosophical

viewsviews

o Marked a Turning Point in the History of Marked a Turning Point in the History of

PhilosophyPhilosophy

SOCRATES AND PLATO

PlatoPlato

o Lived Around 429-347 B.C.E. in Athens, Lived Around 429-347 B.C.E. in Athens,

GreeceGreece

o Socrates’ Disciple, Aristotle’s TeacherSocrates’ Disciple, Aristotle’s Teacher

o Produced Nearly 20 “Socratic Dialogues”Produced Nearly 20 “Socratic Dialogues”

o Wrote some of the Dialogues from his own Wrote some of the Dialogues from his own

Memory of Socrates’ ConversationsMemory of Socrates’ Conversations

o Had His Own Philosophical Views and Used Had His Own Philosophical Views and Used

some Socratic Dialogues to Express Themsome Socratic Dialogues to Express Them

oProduced the first philosophical ‘system’Produced the first philosophical ‘system’

PLATO’S THEORY OF REALITY


Plato’s Theory of RealityPlato’s Theory of Reality

Plato maintains that there are Plato maintains that there are two two realitiesrealities

1.1. The world of appearances (The spatio-temporal world we The world of appearances (The spatio-temporal world we perceive with our five senses)perceive with our five senses)

2.2. The world of Ideas or Forms (A ‘Transcendent’ world outside The world of Ideas or Forms (A ‘Transcendent’ world outside of space and time)of space and time)

Transcendent world of BEING

Space-Time world of

BECOMING



Plato’s theory rests on the following assumptions:Plato’s theory rests on the following assumptions:

I.I.The belief that everything is relative and constantly changing The belief that everything is relative and constantly changing results in impossible conclusions. (We could not know or talk about results in impossible conclusions. (We could not know or talk about anything).anything).

II.II.There must be one ‘True being’ which is There must be one ‘True being’ which is one one and and unchanging.unchanging.

III.III.This ‘True being’ is what can be known and discussed.This ‘True being’ is what can be known and discussed.


Space-Time world of

BECOMING




Space-Time world of

BECOMING

ObjectiveTranscendentEternalIntelligibleArchetypalPerfect

SubjectiveSpatiotemporalChangeableSensibleCopiedImperfect



The Transcendent world of Being is populated by ‘Forms’ (Ideas)The Transcendent world of Being is populated by ‘Forms’ (Ideas)

What are ‘Forms’?What are ‘Forms’?

Forms (Ideas) exist in the world of Being and exhibit the following Forms (Ideas) exist in the world of Being and exhibit the following characteristics:characteristics:

1)1)ObjectiveObjective

2)2)TranscendentTranscendent

3)3)EternalEternal

4)4)IntelligibleIntelligible

5)5)ArchetypalArchetypal

6)6)PerfectPerfect

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS



Q: What is a Chair?Q: What is a Chair?

Try to find a definition of what a chair is.Try to find a definition of what a chair is.

Is there anything they all have in common?Is there anything they all have in common?



What do Forms do?What do Forms do?

For Plato, every particular thing’s For Plato, every particular thing’s Whatness Whatness is caused by and related to is caused by and related to one or more Forms.one or more Forms.


Space-Time world of

BECOMING



What do Forms do?What do Forms do?

Every particular thing’s Every particular thing’s Whatness Whatness is caused by and related to one or is caused by and related to one or more Forms.more Forms.

Further examples:Further examples:

Q: How do we distinguish between what is Just or Unjust?Q: How do we distinguish between what is Just or Unjust?

A: Something is Just insofar as it stands in relation to the Form of A: Something is Just insofar as it stands in relation to the Form of Justice-Justice-nessness

Something is Red in relationship to the form of Something is Red in relationship to the form of RednessRedness

Something Hard and Transparent is related to the Forms of Hardness and Something Hard and Transparent is related to the Forms of Hardness and TransparencyTransparency



1. A chair is a ‘Chair’ in the extent to which it reflects or copies the ‘True Form’ of a chair

How does Form impart essence onto a particular How does Form impart essence onto a particular thing?thing?


Space-Time world of

BECOMING



2. A chair is a ‘Chair’ in the extent to which it participates in the ‘True Form’ of a chair

How does the Form impart essence onto a particular thing?

ChairsChairs

Four Legged Four Legged ChairsChairs

Metal ChairsMetal Chairs

Silver Silver chairschairs

This chairThis chair

Chairs in Chairs in this roomthis room

Chairs at Chairs at DCCCDCCC


Key Assumptions (Reiteration)Key Assumptions (Reiteration)

Everything in the world of Becoming is temporary, subject to Everything in the world of Becoming is temporary, subject to change, imperfect and perishablechange, imperfect and perishable

Without the Transcendent world of being we would be unable to Without the Transcendent world of being we would be unable to discuss or know anything.discuss or know anything.

Even if we destroyed every chair in the world of becoming, the Even if we destroyed every chair in the world of becoming, the Form, or Idea of Chairs continues to exist.Form, or Idea of Chairs continues to exist.

Abstract concepts, such as Justice, Beauty, Happiness, etc. are Abstract concepts, such as Justice, Beauty, Happiness, etc. are just as real as things like chairs.just as real as things like chairs.

Plato divides between Higher Forms (things without physical Plato divides between Higher Forms (things without physical manifestation) and Lower Forms (things that manifest physically)manifestation) and Lower Forms (things that manifest physically)

Forms in the world of Being impart essence by:Forms in the world of Being impart essence by:1.1. The extent something reflects the True formThe extent something reflects the True form2.2. The extent something participates in the True formThe extent something participates in the True form

Forms can be referred to as a standard for judgement.Forms can be referred to as a standard for judgement.

DISCUSSION

DISCUSSION

Questions for Discussion:Questions for Discussion:

1.1. Is Plato a Monist, Dualist, Pluralist or Nihilist?Is Plato a Monist, Dualist, Pluralist or Nihilist?

2.2. Do you agree with Plato’s assumption that without unchangeable Do you agree with Plato’s assumption that without unchangeable

and eternal Forms we would be unable to discuss or know anything?and eternal Forms we would be unable to discuss or know anything?

3.3. Is Plato’s theory of reality any good?Is Plato’s theory of reality any good?

4.4. Is there a simpler way to explain the Is there a simpler way to explain the whatness whatness of things without of things without

appealing to Plato’s Forms?appealing to Plato’s Forms?

5.5. Is it clear in Plato’s philosophy how the world of Being relates to the Is it clear in Plato’s philosophy how the world of Being relates to the

world of Becoming?world of Becoming?

6.6. Is Truth, Beauty, Courage, etc. as Real as tables or chairs?Is Truth, Beauty, Courage, etc. as Real as tables or chairs?

L ECTURE 4: P LATO. T ODAY ’ S L ECTURE In today’s lecture we will: 1.Begin our investigation...

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