Lecture 5: Plato

Today’s Lecture In Today’s lecture we will: Recap what we learned about Plato’s theory of reality in lecture Clarify Plato’s argument for the existence of eternal forms Investigate Plato’s ‘Divided Line’ Investigate Plato’s allegory of the cave Consider some criticisms of Plato’s theory of reality Briefly Consider Some alternatives Conclude our investigation into Plato’s theory of reality Today’s Lecture

Recap

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

Topic Recap Ontological options Ontology is the study of what exists, what is real etc. Ontology is a branch of metaphysics. Most theories of reality maintain one of the following ontological beliefs: Monism The belief that reality is composed of one thing. Dualism The belief that reality is composed of two things. Pluralism The belief that reality is composed of many things. Nihilism The view that nothing exists Topic Recap

Topic Recap In answer to the question; what is reality? Plato answers: Reality is composed of Two distinct worlds: The Space-Time world of BECOMING (the world according to the senses) The transcendent world of BEING (a world not experienced by the five senses but still related to the world of Becoming) Objects in each world exhibits the following characteristics: Objective Transcendent Eternal Intelligible Archetypal Perfect Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING Subjective Spatiotemporal Changeable Sensible Copied Imperfect Topic Recap

Topic Recap In answer to the question; what is reality? Plato answers: The space-time world of Becoming is full of Sensible objects (we can sense them) The transcendent world of Being is furnished with Forms (or Ideas) which impart essence onto worldly objects Forms are related to objects by: The extent something reflects the True form The extent something participates in the True form Plato divides between Higher Forms (things without physical manifestation) and Lower Forms (things that manifest physically) Form (Idea) chairs Transcendent world of BEING Space-Time world of BECOMING Topic Recap

...some clarification

Clarification of Plato’s Reasoning Clarification of Plato’s reasoning (the problem of universals) Heraclitus: There is no One Unchanging Thing except change; the world undergoes constant changes (Heraclitus) The Problem: Plato: Option 1 leads to impossible conclusions (we could not know or discuss anything). But we do know some things and talk about them. Plato’s Assumption: There must be One Unchanging Thing or knowledge and discussion (language) would be impossible. Plato’s Conclusion: What is this One? Transcendent, eternal , unchanging Forms in the world of Being Clarification of Plato’s Reasoning

The Divided Line

Plato’s Divided Line D C B A Epistemology (Thought) Metaphysics (Objects) D C B A Higher Forms Understanding Being (Intelligible World) Knowledge Mathematical Forms Reason Sensible Objects Perception Opinion Becoming (Visible World) Images Imagination Plato’s Divided Line

The Allegory of the Cave

Plato’s Cave The Good Higher Forms Mathematical Forms Lower Forms Hierarchy of Plato’s Theory of Reality Higher Forms Mathematical Forms Lower Forms Sensible Objects Images The Good The Form of the Good is the ultimate Form and the source of all knowledge and existence Each being is derived from the next being up Plato’s Cave

Plato’s Cave SUN In VISIBLE WORLD By its LIGHT Cause of SIGHT And existence of objects and sight GOOD In INTELLIGIBLE WORLD By its TRUTH Cause of KNOWLEDGE And existence of objects of knowledge (Forms) Analogous to Plato’s Cave (Textbook, P. 69)

Plato’s Cave

Criticisms of Plato

But! Plato does not give us a clear explanation. Some objections that were raised in regards to Plato’s theory of reality: What is the relationship between Forms and objects? For example, if I invent something is a new form created? Possible answer: Forms do not come into or out of existence (they are eternal) so when we ‘invent’ something we are merely copying a Form which already existed But! Plato does not give us a clear explanation. Do we really need something like the forms to explain how we recognize a chair as a chair? For example, we are taught what is and isn’t a chair; different cultures have different understandings of what different things are. Isn’t there a simpler way to explain how we can know the essence of an object? Ockham’s Razor (p.77): “Entities are not to be multiplied without necessity” Criticisms of Plato

Criticisms of Plato The ‘Third-Man- Argument Aristotle raises the follow problem: To explain the similarities between Person 1 and 2 we need a third person Criticisms of Plato

Criticisms of Plato The ‘Third-Man- Argument Aristotle raises the follow problem: But to explain the relationship between these three we need a fourth... ... And fifth And so on... Criticisms of Plato

The Problem of Separation Aristotle further criticizes Plato on the following grounds: It is unclear in Plato’s theory of reality how the world of BEING relates to and influences the world of BECOMING Transcendent world of BEING Form (Idea) chairs Chorismos (Separation) Space-Time world of BECOMING The Problem of Separation

Alternatives to Plato

Realism Alternative 1: Realism “The doctrine that Forms, or essences, possess objective reality” (p.79) Essentially follows Plato’s premise that there must be something like the Forms but modifies or improves upon Plato’s theory of reality. Positive features: Negative features: Adherents: Plato Aristotle St Augustine St. Thomas Aquinas Realism

Realism Alternative 2: Nominalism “The doctrine that Forms, or Universals, are merely universal names by which we group together things that possess similar features” (p.79) Maintains that Forms and essences (universals) do not have any independent existences. They are just words we use to group things together with similar features. Positive Features: Negative Features: Adherents: William of Ockham W.V.O. Quine Realism

Realism Alternative 3: Conceptualism “The doctrine that universals are material constructs, and as such really exist in the mind” (p.79) Accepts the existence of Universals, essences, etc. but they do not exist independently or transcendentally; they exist in the mind. Hence we can talk and have knowledge about reality. Positive Features: Negative Features: Realism

Summary

Plato’s Theory of Forms Summary of Plato’s Theory of Reality Reality is composed of two distinct worlds: The world of Being The world of Becoming Objects in each world have radically different properties. Forms in the world of Being impart essence (Whatness) onto objects in the world of Becoming Plato divides between Higher Forms (things without physical manifestation) and Lower Forms (things that manifest physically) Plato further clarifies his theory of reality using the ‘Divided Line’ analogy. The ultimate form and the source of all existence and knowledge is the form of the ‘Good’ Plato uses the ‘Analogy of the Cave’ to further illustrate the Form of the Good Plato’s Theory of Forms