Intro: Clarification of Terms

Basic Classification Epistomology Ontology Ethics:

Epistemology study of knowledge and justified belief Related Questions: What are the necessary conditions for knowledge? What are its sources? It’s limits? Related Concept: Justification: What makes justified beliefs justified?

Ontology The study of the nature of being, existence, reality Part of branch of philosophy known as metaphysics Related Questions: What kinds of entities exist or can be said to exist? Related Concept(s): Ontological Argument: arguments for the existence of God based on sources other than the world: i.e.: from reason alone St Anselm (11 th c): concept of a being “than which no greater can be conceived”:

Ethics Morality and practical reason Used descriptively: a code of conduct put forth by society, or; Accepted as basis for one’s own behavior Related Questions: What is the nature of the Good? Is it objective and universal, or subjective and personal?

Allegory A mode of representation conveying meaning beyond the literal: a tool to communicate: use of symbolic figures or actions to suggest relationships Forms: language: poems, stories, but also can be a painting or sculpture Plato’s The Cave: an allegorical tale illustrating his central Theory of Forms

Plato’s Theory of Forms Provides groundwork for all else he does Problem: How do we know anything? How do we define/recognize virtues such as Justice, Truth, Compassion? Beauty?

Illustration: The Color Blue Used and applied to many things But how do we do this since we never encountered an unambiguous example of “blue”? The Challenge of Change in the World: A blue shirt washed over and over: result? What standards are to be used to determine its blueness?

Plato’s Assumptions from this Appears some objective standard needed for these judgments Theory of Form attempts to deal with this challenge of change Concludes: If knowledge is possible, objective knowledge must be unchanging *argues real, mind-independent entities exist: forms: ideal forms of Justice, Good, Beauty, Male, Female, Blue

All knowledge, judgments, definitions are possible because of these forms Will never see these in this world but can recognize its likeness, or “shadow”

The Cave?

Plato and Anamnesis Sophistic Paradox and the Nature of Virtue What is Plato’s ‘Paradox of Knowledge’? Meno (to Socrates): “How are you going to search for that (nature of virtue) when you do not know what it is? How will you recognize it? Conversely: if you do know the attributes of something (Nature of virtue) why do you need to search for it?

Theory of Anamnesis Response is Theory of Anamnesis The soul is immortal and repeatedly incarnated Knowledge is in the soul ‘from eternity’ but.. During each incarnation, knowledge is forgotten What one perceives as learning is actually process of remembering Teacher as ‘Mid-wife?: aiding with birth of knowledge

Plato’s Phaedo Develops Theory of Anamnesis Presents a way of living that allows for this remembered learning (anamnesis) Katharsis: cleansing The body and its senses as main source of error, defilement and illusion

Review Plato’s Philosophy Identify and explain Plato’s ontology, epistemology, and theory of virtue

Wrapping up Plato What are the key points to Plato’s ontology, epistemology, and ethic? How does this shape and inform my developing personal philosophy?

Plato’s Ontology Best illustrated in his Theory of Forms where all objects (material, mental, spiritual) in this world are shadowy, imperfect reflections of ideal forms that exist on a higher plane of existence that are real, eternal, and universally true. Just as ideal, perfect versions of Beauty, Justice, trees, Man, Woman exist, so to do idealized, Perfect versions of ourselves exist (Soul, or pneuma)

Plato’s Epistemology Best represented by his Theory of Anamnesis. Eternal Truth, Goodness, Beauty, Justice, etc. can be known primarily through the human power of reason and logic. Plato’s overall theory of education is one of uncovering the Good, the True, etc. through the power of reason. We are capable of recognizing imperfect versions of these perfect, idealized Forms because we have known them in our soul before and, in effect, “remember them” (anamnesis) Plato further views the material body and its senses suspiciously, arguing that Truth, Goodness, Justice, etc. are discovered through the mind and its powers of reason, not our senses, which are sources of error, illusion, even defilement.

Plato’s Ethics Reflected in both his Theory of Forms and Theory of Anamnesis. A virtuous, ethical life is one that allows for this remembered learning of the Good to occur through regular, contemplation and Katharsis, or cleansing that resists overreliance on the senses.