Philosophy 1050: Philosophy 1050: Introduction to PhilosophyIntroduction to Philosophy

Week 6: Plato, Week 6: Plato,

Forms, and WisdomForms, and Wisdom

Plato, forms and wisdomPlato, forms and wisdom• According to Plato, part of doing philosophy According to Plato, part of doing philosophy

is learning how to handle death.is learning how to handle death.• Plato will Plato will argueargue, through Socrates, that the , through Socrates, that the

soul is immortal and so we do not have to soul is immortal and so we do not have to fear death.fear death.

• He will do this by arguing that there are He will do this by arguing that there are certain certain real thingsreal things – called – called formsforms – that we – that we cannot see or touch, but that exist cannot see or touch, but that exist nevertheless and that we know things about nevertheless and that we know things about from even before we were born.from even before we were born.

• By tracing out the argument, we learn how By tracing out the argument, we learn how to to tie downtie down our opinions with reasons, using our opinions with reasons, using rational thinking to make a convincing case.rational thinking to make a convincing case.

The Death of SocratesThe Death of Socrates

The Death of SocratesThe Death of Socrates• Cebes: “Assuming that we were afraid, Cebes: “Assuming that we were afraid,

Socrates, try to change our minds, or rather Socrates, try to change our minds, or rather do not assume that we are afraid, but do not assume that we are afraid, but perhaps there is a child in us who has these perhaps there is a child in us who has these fears; try to persuade him not to fear death fears; try to persuade him not to fear death like a bogey.” (77e)like a bogey.” (77e)

• If we were in Socrates’ situation, what (if If we were in Socrates’ situation, what (if anything) would convince us not to be anything) would convince us not to be afraid?afraid?

• What would we want to know?What would we want to know?

• How could we know this?How could we know this?

The Death of Socrates: The Death of Socrates: Soul vs. BodySoul vs. Body

• ““When, then, does the soul grasp the When, then, does the soul grasp the truth? For whenever it attempts to truth? For whenever it attempts to examine anything with the body, it is examine anything with the body, it is clearly deceived by it … Is it not in clearly deceived by it … Is it not in reasoning if anywhere that any reasoning if anywhere that any reality becomes clear to the soul?” reality becomes clear to the soul?” (65b; p. 102).(65b; p. 102).

The Death of Socrates: The Death of Socrates: The “Forms”The “Forms”

• -Do we say that there is such a thing -Do we say that there is such a thing as the Just itself, or not?as the Just itself, or not?– -We do say so, by Zeus.-We do say so, by Zeus.

• -And the Beautiful, and the Good?-And the Beautiful, and the Good?– -Of course.-Of course.

• -And have you ever seen any of -And have you ever seen any of those things with your eyes?those things with your eyes?– -In no way. (65d)-In no way. (65d)

Socrates, Plato, and the Socrates, Plato, and the FormsForms• According to Plato, there are some real According to Plato, there are some real

things – he calls them “forms” – that we do things – he calls them “forms” – that we do not directly observe with our eyes but not directly observe with our eyes but nevertheless can know some things about nevertheless can know some things about them.them.

• We can also use them as “standards” to We can also use them as “standards” to judge things we can observe.judge things we can observe.

• Examples: The beautiful, the equal Examples: The beautiful, the equal (equality), justice, truth, the perfect square.(equality), justice, truth, the perfect square.

Putting together the pieces: Putting together the pieces: Socrates and ImmortalitySocrates and Immortality

• We want to We want to trace a routetrace a route from: from: – The idea of the FORMS – actual things The idea of the FORMS – actual things

that we can know about, but have never that we can know about, but have never perceived with our senses perceived with our senses

To:To:

– The claim that the soul is IMMORTAL.The claim that the soul is IMMORTAL.

The Death of Socrates: The Death of Socrates: WisdomWisdom• ““It really has been shown to us that, if It really has been shown to us that, if

we are ever to have pure knowledge, we we are ever to have pure knowledge, we must escape from the body and observe must escape from the body and observe things in themselves with the soul by things in themselves with the soul by itself. It seems likely that we shall, only itself. It seems likely that we shall, only then, when we are dead, attain that then, when we are dead, attain that which we desire and of which we claim which we desire and of which we claim to be lovers, namely wisdom, as our to be lovers, namely wisdom, as our argument shows, not while we live…” argument shows, not while we live…” (66d-e)(66d-e)

Plato, Forms, and Wisdom: Plato, Forms, and Wisdom: SummarySummary• According to Plato, we do not need to fear According to Plato, we do not need to fear

death because we can know that the soul is death because we can know that the soul is immortal and continues to exist after the immortal and continues to exist after the body dies.body dies.

• This is because, through our soul, we have This is because, through our soul, we have knowledge of the forms – perfect exemplars knowledge of the forms – perfect exemplars that we cannot see or sense.that we cannot see or sense.

• According to Plato, we got this knowledge According to Plato, we got this knowledge before we were born, and later on we can before we were born, and later on we can recollect or remember it.recollect or remember it.

• By tracing out the argument for immortality, By tracing out the argument for immortality, we are learning how to support our opinions we are learning how to support our opinions or views with reasons that make them solid, or views with reasons that make them solid, grounded, and convincing.grounded, and convincing.