Socrates and Plato Socrates (d. 399 BCE) Plato ( BCE)

Socrates Socrates questioned fundamental moral values of Athenian Society Socrates questioned fundamental moral values of Athenian Society What is courage? What is virtue? What is Piety? These are all Socratic questions. What is courage? What is virtue? What is Piety? These are all Socratic questions. Had many followers Had many followers Convicted by an Athenian jury of corrupting the youth and heresy in 399.

Socrates wrote nothing. Plato used Socrates as a character in most of his dialogues. Socrates wrote nothing. Plato used Socrates as a character in most of his dialogues. Plato was Socrates’ most famous follower Plato was Socrates’ most famous follower Almost all of Plato’s work is in dialogue form Almost all of Plato’s work is in dialogue form Most people think the early dialogues give us a picture of the historical Socrates Most people think the early dialogues give us a picture of the historical Socrates In the Meno Socrates acts as a mouthpiece for Plato. In the Meno Socrates acts as a mouthpiece for Plato.

Meno’s paradox If you already know what virtue is, you don’t need to work to discover it. If you already know what virtue is, you don’t need to work to discover it. If you don’t know what virtue is, then it is impossible to come to discover it. You need the ability to recognize virtue when you “see” it– and you can only do this if you already know what virtue is If you don’t know what virtue is, then it is impossible to come to discover it. You need the ability to recognize virtue when you “see” it– and you can only do this if you already know what virtue is Therefore, it is impossible to come to know anything “by way of inquiry.” what virtue is Therefore, it is impossible to come to know anything “by way of inquiry.” what virtue is

Socrates replies that we can come to know something new because this knowledge is already in us. We learned it before, in a past life Socrates replies that we can come to know something new because this knowledge is already in us. We learned it before, in a past life The slave boy example is designed to show that the slave has within himself the ability to know—Socrates does not tell him anything, but just asks questions The slave boy example is designed to show that the slave has within himself the ability to know—Socrates does not tell him anything, but just asks questions

Knowledge and opinion Objects of knowledge are absolute, certain and unchanging. They need to “be” in an unqualified way Objects of knowledge are absolute, certain and unchanging. They need to “be” in an unqualified way Objects of opinion are qualified, imperfect, and changing. They are what they are in a qualified sense Objects of opinion are qualified, imperfect, and changing. They are what they are in a qualified sense

Examples Virtuous people, beautiful objects, circular shapes that you perceive are each objects of opinion. (these are imperfect and qualified) Virtuous people, beautiful objects, circular shapes that you perceive are each objects of opinion. (these are imperfect and qualified) Virtue itself, beauty itself, circularity itself are objects of knowledge. These are perfect and unqualified. They are what they are. Virtue itself, beauty itself, circularity itself are objects of knowledge. These are perfect and unqualified. They are what they are. Plato calls the objects of knowledge the Forms. Plato calls the objects of knowledge the Forms.

But the senses are not useless They provide us with practical information They provide us with practical information They provide a starting point for knowledge They provide a starting point for knowledge Even though a sensible circle is not a real circle, you can use the sensible circle to stir your soul to grasp the true, non-sensible form of circularity. Likewise, to discover what justice is you can start with particular examples of just people or just actions.