Socrates and the Socratic Turn. Socrates Not interested in questions about the nature of reality Not...
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Socrates and the Socrates and the Socratic TurnSocratic Turn
SocratesSocrates
Not interested in questions about Not interested in questions about the nature of realitythe nature of reality
Instead he asked questions about Instead he asked questions about ‘the state of one’s soul’‘the state of one’s soul’ What is courage?What is courage? What does it mean to be a good person?What does it mean to be a good person? What is justice?What is justice? What is piety?What is piety?
Socrates IISocrates II
This is called ‘the Socratic Turn’This is called ‘the Socratic Turn’ Symbolically: Socrates ‘turning away’ Symbolically: Socrates ‘turning away’
from nature and to the selffrom nature and to the self First time that the human mind and First time that the human mind and
condition becomes the target of condition becomes the target of philosophical inquiryphilosophical inquiry
Examples:Examples: No one knowingly does evilNo one knowingly does evil Justice is not ‘might makes right’Justice is not ‘might makes right’
EuthyphroEuthyphro
Brief Review of Story in context of Brief Review of Story in context of life and death of Socrateslife and death of Socrates
11stst attempt: “Doing what I am doing” attempt: “Doing what I am doing” This is an example not a definitionThis is an example not a definition
What all examples have in common
And
Having that in common makes them examples
Euthyphro IIEuthyphro II
22ndnd attempt: “Loved by the gods” attempt: “Loved by the gods” 33rdrd attempt: “Loved by ALL the gods” attempt: “Loved by ALL the gods”
Divine command theoryDivine command theory
Euthyphro QuestionEuthyphro Question Does God command it because it is good, Does God command it because it is good, or is it good because he commands it? or is it good because he commands it? Intrinsic vs. relational propertiesIntrinsic vs. relational properties
Male vs. BrotherMale vs. Brother Weight vs. MassWeight vs. Mass
Not the way we think loving worksNot the way we think loving works If relational then morality is completely If relational then morality is completely
arbitrary arbitrary E.G. should God command us to murder E.G. should God command us to murder
children it would be morally permissible to do children it would be morally permissible to do so so
PlatoPlato
Greek PhilosopherGreek Philosopher
Knowledge of the GoodKnowledge of the Good
Socrates claimed that the virtuous Socrates claimed that the virtuous person is one who knows the Goodperson is one who knows the Good
It is then of the utmost importance to It is then of the utmost importance to figure out how one can actually know figure out how one can actually know the Goodthe Good This is the project that Plato takes upThis is the project that Plato takes up His goal is to try and show how knowledge His goal is to try and show how knowledge
of the Good is possibleof the Good is possible But in order to answer that he must first But in order to answer that he must first
answer the more general question: how do answer the more general question: how do we know anything?we know anything?
What is Knowledge?What is Knowledge?
I parked my car in the lot, do I know I parked my car in the lot, do I know where my car is?where my car is?
Knowledge requires certainty Knowledge requires certainty Object of knowledge can’t changeObject of knowledge can’t change
If what can be known can’t change, If what can be known can’t change, then physical world can’t be an then physical world can’t be an object of knowledgeobject of knowledge It is in a constant state of flux It is in a constant state of flux
(becoming)(becoming)
What is Knowledge? IIWhat is Knowledge? II
So, if we are to have real knowledge it So, if we are to have real knowledge it must meet the following requirementsmust meet the following requirements UnchangingUnchanging Non-physicalNon-physical eternaleternal
Plato’s strategy is to look for an area Plato’s strategy is to look for an area where there is some knowledge where there is some knowledge already and then try to figure out already and then try to figure out what is going on therewhat is going on there Geometry/mathematicsGeometry/mathematics
The Argument from The Argument from MathematicsMathematics
How is it possible that we know that How is it possible that we know that 2+2=4 or that A2+2=4 or that A22+B+B22=C=C22
Mathematical truths do not changeMathematical truths do not change 2 is prime, and will always be prime2 is prime, and will always be prime 2 is even and will always be even2 is even and will always be even
2 2 is that the number two?is that the number two? NO! It is a representation of the number NO! It is a representation of the number
twotwo Cat Cat is that a cat? No!is that a cat? No!
The Argument from The Argument from Mathematics IIMathematics II
In the same way, this is In the same way, this is not a triangle, it is a representation of not a triangle, it is a representation of oneone
Triangles and numbers do not exist Triangles and numbers do not exist physicallyphysically No one has ever seen the number twoNo one has ever seen the number two Triangles are made of lines, which are made Triangles are made of lines, which are made
of points, which have no dimensionsof points, which have no dimensions But they MUST existBut they MUST exist
For otherwise mathematics would not be For otherwise mathematics would not be about anything and so would be falseabout anything and so would be false
The Correspondence Theory The Correspondence Theory of Truthof Truth
For a sentence to be true is for it to For a sentence to be true is for it to accurately represent realityaccurately represent reality
So the sentence ‘the cat is on the So the sentence ‘the cat is on the mat’ will be true ifmat’ will be true if There is a catThere is a cat There is a matThere is a mat And the former is on the latterAnd the former is on the latter
The Argument from The Argument from Mathematics IIIMathematics III
The same is true of mathematical The same is true of mathematical statementsstatements
For 2+2=4 to be true there must beFor 2+2=4 to be true there must be The number twoThe number two The number fourThe number four They must be related in the way the They must be related in the way the
sentence sayssentence says For AFor A22+B+B22=C=C22 to be true there must be to be true there must be
Right trianglesRight triangles
Theory of the FormsTheory of the Forms So, numbers and geometrical shapes So, numbers and geometrical shapes
exists as non-physical, eternal, and exists as non-physical, eternal, and unchanging objects that are the objects unchanging objects that are the objects of knowledgeof knowledge
We get in touch with these objects via We get in touch with these objects via the use of reasonthe use of reason Plato is a rationalistPlato is a rationalist Knowledge can only be achieved via the use Knowledge can only be achieved via the use
of reasonof reason These non-physical objects are called These non-physical objects are called
FormsForms
Theory of the Forms IITheory of the Forms II
From the Greek ‘eidos’From the Greek ‘eidos’ Means idea, but not in the way that we Means idea, but not in the way that we
use the worduse the word These Ideas exist outside of the mind, These Ideas exist outside of the mind,
outside of time and space outside of time and space The mind is able to ‘grasp’ these formsThe mind is able to ‘grasp’ these forms
Two more arguments for FormsTwo more arguments for Forms Degrees of perfectionDegrees of perfection One over ManyOne over Many
Degrees of PerfectionDegrees of Perfection
Degrees of Perfection IIDegrees of Perfection II
How do you know that the triangles How do you know that the triangles are not perfect unless you know what are not perfect unless you know what the perfect one is like the perfect one is like And you are able to compareAnd you are able to compare
This, says Plato, is true of everythingThis, says Plato, is true of everything You know that some actions are not You know that some actions are not
perfectly justperfectly just But how could you know this unless there But how could you know this unless there
was Perfect Justice and you knew it?was Perfect Justice and you knew it? That is the Form of JusticeThat is the Form of Justice
Those are trees
The Form of Tree
One Over ManyOne Over Many The Forms explain why it is that we The Forms explain why it is that we
categorize certain objects as male but not categorize certain objects as male but not othersothers There is a Form for every thing that objects There is a Form for every thing that objects
have in commonhave in common When you see that an object is, say, a desk When you see that an object is, say, a desk
you are grasping the Form of that objectyou are grasping the Form of that object The objects are said to ‘participate’ in the The objects are said to ‘participate’ in the
FormForm An object can participate is many Forms at An object can participate is many Forms at
the same timethe same time
Human The Beautiful
The Divided LineThe Divided Line
Metaphysics Epistemology
Images
Intelligible World
Visible World
Knowledge
OpinionImaginati
on
Sensible Obj
Perception
Lower Forms
Reasoning
Higher Forms
Reasoning
The Good