R EALITY ACCORDING TO P LATO

TODAY’S LECTURE In this presentation we will: 1.Begin our investigation into the question of reality (metaphysics) 2.Briefly consider some theories of reality 3.Become introduced to Socrates and Plato 4.Begin our exploration into Plato’s theory of reality a)Plato’s theory of forms b)Plato’s divided line

T HE Q UESTION OF R EALITY

W HAT IS R EALITY ? The question of reality (Metaphysics) o What is reality? o What are things made of? o What is the ultimate? o What is it that everything depends on for its existence? o What is really real? o How do we distinguish between what is real and what is mere illusion? The problem of the one and the many o What is the ultimate reality (the One)? o How is everything else (the Many) related to the One?

W HAT IS R EALITY ? Ontological options o Ontology is the study of what exists, what is real etc. o Ontology is a branch of metaphysics. o Most theories of reality maintain one of the following ontological beliefs: 1.Monism The belief that reality is composed of one thing. 2.Dualism The belief that reality is composed of two things. 3.Pluralism The belief that reality is composed of many things. 4.Nihilism The view that nothing exists

W HAT IS R EALITY ? 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 one thing, two things, many things or nothing? Trees Thoughts about trees The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Beethoven’s Fifth Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute Vacuum cleaners LoveAtomsChristianity 50 Shades of Grey If we took away all particular instances of these things, would they continue existing?

W HAT IS R EALITY ? Back to the Greeks - Theories of Reality Thales of Miletus o Held the ‘monist’ view that reality is one thing o Argued that everything was composed of water Heraclitus o Maintained that the only thing that does not change, is change itself o Believed that reality is in a constant state of flux o Famously claimed that we cannot step into the same river twice Pythagoras o Maintained the supposition that everything was composed of numbers o Any correct description of reality must be expressed in terms of mathematical numbers. Parmenides o Claimed that the world according to the senses is a delusion

W HAT IS R EALITY ? Theories of Reality Modern science o Maintains that reality is composed of: One thing; Physical matter o Seeks to find the most fundamental building block of physical matter (the ultimate one): Atoms, Frackles, Quarks etc. To be continued... o Attempts to understand the relationship between the one and the many To be continued...

W HAT IS R EALITY ? Theories of Reality Modern science Why might modern science be inadequate at investigating the question of reality? The modern sciences begin with the assumption that reality is real and composed of at least one thing Modern science has already made its decision about reality It is ‘one step’ beyond our current investigation Could there be a scientific experiment that proves reality is composed of one thing? For example: Q: What is reality composed of? Modern scientists: One thing Q: What is the nature of this one thing? Q: How does this one relate to the many? MS: We continue to conduct scientific investigations into the nature of physical substances

S OCRATES AND P LATO

Socrates o Lived Around B.C.E. in Athens, Greece o Executed for Practicing Philosophy o Wrote Nothing Down and Gave no Lectures o Viewed Philosophy as a Social Activity o Discussed Philosophy with his Fellow Citizens in the Streets of Athens o Interesting for more than his philosophical views o Marked a Turning Point in the History of Philosophy

S OCRATES AND P LATO Plato o Lived Around B.C.E. in Athens, Greece o Socrates’ Disciple, Aristotle’s Teacher o Produced Nearly 20 “Socratic Dialogues” o Wrote some of the Dialogues from his own Memory of Socrates’ Conversations o Had His Own Philosophical Views and Used some Socratic Dialogues to Express Them o Produced the first philosophical ‘system’

PLATO’S THEORY OF REALITY

Plato’s problems 1. How can humans lead a happy, fulfilling life in a contingent and changing world where things can be taken away 2. How can the world appear to be both permanent and changing?

PLATO’S THEORY OF REALITY Plato’s Theory of Reality Plato maintains that there are two realities 1.The world of appearances (The spatio-temporal world we perceive with our five senses) 2.The world of Ideas or Forms (A ‘Transcendent’ world outside of space and time) Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING

PLATO’S THEORY OF REALITY Plato’s Theory of Reality Plato’s theory rests on the following assumptions: I.The belief that everything is relative and constantly changing results in impossible conclusions. (We could not know or talk about anything). II.There must be one ‘True being’ which is one and unchanging. III.This ‘True being’ is what can be known and discussed. Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING

PLATO’S THEORY OF REALITY Plato’s Theory of Reality Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING Objective Transcendent Eternal Intelligible Archetypal Perfect Subjective Spatiotemporal Changeable Sensible Copied Imperfect

T HE M ATRIX

PLATO’S THEORY OF REALITY Plato’s Theory of Reality The Transcendent world of Being is populated by ‘Forms’ (Ideas) What are ‘Forms’? Forms (Ideas) exist in the world of Being and exhibit the following characteristics: 1)Transcendent 2)Pure 3)Archetypal 4)Ultimately real (eternal) 5)Causal 6)Systematically interconnected

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS

Plato’s Theory of Reality Q: What is a Chair? Try to find a definition of what a chair is. Is there anything they all have in common?

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS Plato’s Theory of Reality What do Forms do? For Plato, every particular thing’s Whatness is caused by and related to one or more Forms. Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS Plato’s Theory of Reality What do Forms do? Every particular thing’s Whatness is caused by and related to one or more Forms. Further examples: 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 Justice-ness Something is Red in relationship to the form of Redness Something Hard and Transparent is related to the Forms of Hardness and Transparency

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS Plato’s Theory of Reality 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 thing? Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS Plato’s Theory of Reality 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? Chairs Four Legged Chairs Metal Chairs Silver chairs This chair Chairs in this room Chairs at LPCI

PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS Key Assumptions (Reiteration)  Everything in the world of Becoming is temporary, subject to change, imperfect and perishable  Without the Transcendent world of being we would be unable to discuss or know anything.  Even if we destroyed every chair in the world of becoming, the Form, or Idea of Chairs continues to exist.  Abstract concepts, such as Justice, Beauty, Happiness, etc. are just as real as things like chairs.  Plato divides between Higher Forms (things without physical manifestation) and Lower Forms (things that manifest physically)  Forms in the world of Being impart essence by: 1.The extent something reflects the True form 2.The extent something participates in the True form  Forms can be referred to as a standard for judgement.

D ISCUSSION

Questions for Discussion: 1.Is Plato a Monist, Dualist, Pluralist or Nihilist? 2.Do you agree with Plato’s assumption that without unchangeable and eternal Forms we would be unable to discuss or know anything? 3.Is Plato’s theory of reality any good? 4.Is there a simpler way to explain the whatness of things without appealing to Plato’s Forms? 5.Is it clear in Plato’s philosophy how the world of Being relates to the world of Becoming? 6.Is Truth, Beauty, Courage, etc. as Real as tables or chairs?