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Plato's Philosophy Kathy Edwards Philosophy Part II 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 1 Plato’s idea of the Forms The essence or core of something. The concept The idea Universal understanding Cat, dog, horse, beauty, justice 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 2 Plato’s Idea of the Forms Abstract Beyond space and time Knowing We all “know” what a cat is, what a horse is, what beauty is, what justice is, the idea of the thing The essence is the known part 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 3 Plato’s Idea of the Forms To “know” something is to have the idea of it Everyone has their own individual, personalized idea of a particular cat, dog, horse, beauty But, we still “know” universally and in general what “it” is we are talking about 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 4 Plato’s concept of the Soul The soul is really your mind, your psyche, your “will” The soul has three parts: Rational - reason, control, discipline Spirited - will, drive, creativity Desirous - passion, spontaneity 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 5 Plato’s concept of the soul If the soul is in harmony, and all parts are working to the good of the whole, then you are able to become philosophical, and attain the highest form of goodness The soul is the part of us that makes choices 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 6 Plato’s concept of the soul The soul is responsible for the life we lead We do have the ability to change, and make different choices The soul aids us in this world and the next world Perfection of one’s soul towards goodness is our life quest 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 7 Plato’s concept of the soul The life we lead, is the life we choose in this world and the next We may come back and repeat life, if we do not get to the highest good by the time of death The soul learns, over time, the soul will be perfected 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 8 Plato’s concept of the soul The soul can be corrupted The soul can go to Hades, never to return or to be allowed to perfect oneself Plato had a type of concept of “heaven” and “hell” Plato believed in a divine power and in man’s potential for good in this life and the next 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 9 The Apology Socrates speaking to his accusers. Socrates accused of crimes: corruption of the youth of Athens, he caused them to question their elders atheistic practices - he did not worship the gods of Athens, but worshipped the goddess and listened to the Oracle at Delphi 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 10 The Apology Moral code of Socrates: The good man makes you better, not worse. The good man will not do you harm. Never return evil for evil. If you feed evil and fear, it will grow. Begin your education by admitting “I do not know” and seeking those who do know 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 11 The Apology VOW page 54: The charges are old accusations coupled with new ones. Socrates is fighting the shadows He is speaking to an audience already convinced of his guilt page 55: Socrates is a teacher Socrates has a type of wisdom that is often misunderstood 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 12 The Apology Socrates listens to the Oracle at Delphi Socrates is in search of a man wiser than himself He questions others in an irritating manner “the gadfly” He found many knew of many things: poetry, art, music 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 13 The Apology Most people have specialized knowledge Socrates made enemies by asking too many questions the youth gather around Socrates to watch him question others, and they imitate him People become angry with Socrates, blame him (scapegoat) 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 14 The Apology Socrates seeks to reveal, not conceal Everyone is responsible for the education of the young The laws, the jury, the senators, the parents, the city have aided in corruption Socrates asks: why would I want to corrupt anyone? 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 15 The Apology Page 58 “If a man with whom I associate is corrupted by me, I am very likely to be harmed by him?” Why was he not warned of his activities before now if he was so corrupting? Why wait until now, when he is in his 70’s to stop him? 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 16 The Apology The youth can be just as easily corrupted by books in the marketplace that they can purchase themselves. Socrates acknowledges that he believes in the spiritual world and divine beings. His mission to teach is from “god”. See page 60: Soc is not afraid of death or the hereafter 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 17 The Apology Socrates honors Athens and it’s laws. Socrates served as a warrior and on the council. Socrates cares about improvement of men’s souls. “Virtue is not acquired by money, but from virtue comes money and every good…” page 60 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 18 The Apology To kill Socrates, will hurt Athens and the accusers more than it will Socrates, “the evil of unjustly taking a man’s life is great”. (page 61) There are few around like Socrates, there will not be another. Socrates is a gadfly that stings Athens the slow steed….. 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 19 The Apology Socrates is being ridiculed for not being like those in power. Socrates is being punished for going against those in power when he had a position in the government. Oppression and fear did not frighten Soc into abandoning justice. 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 20 The Apology Soc is the same in private and in public However a human turns out to be, he is not responsible, we are responsible for ourselves There are many that seem to be wise but are not, there are many pretenders Seeming is not being 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 21 The Apology Page 63 Socrates is an old man, with a family, he commits his case before god alone A guilty verdict is returned page 63 death is the penalty Seek virtue and wisdom, and the public good appearance and reality are different 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 22 The Apology Socrates knows he will die a martyr Socrates: page 65: “the difficulty is not in avoiding death, but avoiding evil, evil runs faster than death” Death is a gain, not a loss Death is nothingness, unconsciousness or change/migration of soul the true judges are in next world 7/18/2015 Philosophy 100/130 23