Introduction to PhilosophyIntroduction to Philosophy

IS-VNUIS-VNUMr. MikeMr. MikeLecture 3Lecture 3

SocratesSocrates

No WritingsNo Writings

What we know of What we know of Socrates comes Socrates comes from the writings of from the writings of others such as Plato others such as Plato and Xenophon.and Xenophon.

A Native of Athens, A Native of Athens, GreeceGreece

SocratesSocratesOracle of DelphiOracle of Delphi

Priestess of Apollo gifted in Priestess of Apollo gifted in prophecyprophecy

She was asked, “Is there She was asked, “Is there anyone wiser than Socrates?” anyone wiser than Socrates?” She answered no. She answered no.

Socrates felt this we wrong Socrates felt this we wrong because he knew that he because he knew that he didn't know anything.didn't know anything.

Socrates tried to refute the Socrates tried to refute the Oracle by questioning the Oracle by questioning the Wise Men of Athens. Wise Men of Athens.

SocratesSocratesOracle of DelphiOracle of Delphi

Socrates learned that the men Socrates learned that the men who “claimed” to be wise who “claimed” to be wise really knew very little but were really knew very little but were ignorant about their lack of ignorant about their lack of knowledge. knowledge.

Though Socrates knew very Though Socrates knew very little he was aware of his little he was aware of his ignorance and was therefore ignorance and was therefore wiser. wiser.

Socrates' paradoxical wisdom Socrates' paradoxical wisdom comes from realizing his own comes from realizing his own lack of knowledge.lack of knowledge.

SocratesTrial and Death

Socrates public questioning Socrates public questioning of Athen's elite caused those of Athen's elite caused those in power to look foolish. in power to look foolish.

Social and Moral critic of Social and Moral critic of Athens. Athens.

Criticized the common Criticized the common notion that “might is right” notion that “might is right” in Athens. in Athens.

Accused of corrupting the Accused of corrupting the youth and not believing in youth and not believing in the gods of the state.the gods of the state.

Sentenced to drink poison Sentenced to drink poison hemlock. hemlock.

SocratesSocratesThe Socratic Method The Socratic Method

What is Justice? What is Justice?

SocratesSocratesThe Socratic Method The Socratic Method What is Love? What is Love?

SocratesSocratesThe Socratic MethodThe Socratic Method

DIALECTIC: DIALECTIC: A method of seeking truth through a A method of seeking truth through a series of questions and answers. series of questions and answers.

The Socratic method is a “dialectic” method teaching. The Socratic method is a “dialectic” method teaching.

To solve a problem, it is broken down into a series of To solve a problem, it is broken down into a series of questions, the answers to which gradually distill the questions, the answers to which gradually distill the answer a person would seek.answer a person would seek.

SocratesSocrates

EthicsEthicsSocrates' primary Socrates' primary concern in philosophy concern in philosophy was, “How should we was, “How should we live?”live?”

3 Questions3 Questions

What is good? What is good?

What is right? What is right?

What is just (justice)? What is just (justice)?

SocratesSocrates

EthicsEthicsSocrates' ethics Socrates' ethics

assumes that assumes that EducationEducation is the key to living an is the key to living an ethical life.ethical life.

No one desires evil.No one desires evil.

No one errs or does wrong No one errs or does wrong willingly or knowingly.willingly or knowingly.

Virtue—all virtue—is Virtue—all virtue—is knowledge.knowledge.

VirtueVirtue = positive moral = positive moral behaviorbehavior

SocratesSocrates

EthicsEthics

The worst thing for a The worst thing for a person is the corruption person is the corruption of his/her soul. of his/her soul.

It is better to suffer It is better to suffer injustice than to commit injustice than to commit injustice. injustice.

SocratesSocrates

MetaphysicsMetaphysics

Common PropertiesCommon Properties universal characteristics of universal characteristics of words (meanings)words (meanings)

Example:Example:

Behind the word “justice” Behind the word “justice” is a common property is a common property about justice that has an about justice that has an existence apart from our existence apart from our understanding. understanding.

““Justice”Justice”

SocratesSocrates

MetaphysicsMetaphysics

Common PropertiesCommon Properties

Universal characteristics of Universal characteristics of words (meanings)words (meanings)

An aspect of realityAn aspect of reality

Non-physical (abstract)Non-physical (abstract)

““Justice”Justice”

PlatoPlato

Socrates' StudentSocrates' Student

Founded the Academy – Founded the Academy – First institution for higher educationFirst institution for higher education

First Western philosopher First Western philosopher whose writings have survivedwhose writings have survived

Most of what we know about Most of what we know about Socrates comes from Plato's Socrates comes from Plato's writingswritings

Agreed with Pythagoras that Agreed with Pythagoras that Mathematics were essential Mathematics were essential in understanding the worldin understanding the world

PlatoPlatoEthics Ethics

Agreed with Socrates that Agreed with Socrates that the only real harm to a the only real harm to a human is corruption of human is corruption of the soul – it is better to the soul – it is better to suffer wrong than to suffer wrong than to commit wrongcommit wrong

Disagreed with Socrates Disagreed with Socrates that virtue is simply a that virtue is simply a matter of knowing what is matter of knowing what is rightright

WILLWILL

PlatoPlatoEthicsEthics

Humans are made of 3 Humans are made of 3 conflicting elements:conflicting elements:

Passions Passions

Intellect Intellect

WillWill

Most people live life Most people live life allowing the PASSIONS, allowing the PASSIONS, INTELLECT and WILL to be INTELLECT and WILL to be in conflict with one another. in conflict with one another.

INTELLECTINTELLECT PASSIONSPASSIONS

PlatoPlatoEthicsEthics

Ideal living is when the Ideal living is when the INTELLECT controls INTELLECT controls the PASSIONS through the PASSIONS through the WILLthe WILL

INTELLECTINTELLECT

WILLWILL

PASSIONSPASSIONS

PlatoPlatoMetaphysicsMetaphysics

Reality can be divided Reality can be divided into two realms: into two realms:

The Visible WorldThe Visible World

Forms - Ideas Forms - Ideas

PlatoPlatoMetaphysicsMetaphysics

The Visible WorldThe Visible World

Lower - ImperfectLower - Imperfect

World experienced by World experienced by our sensesour senses

Physical Physical

Bound by Space and Bound by Space and TimeTime

Always changingAlways changing

Always “becoming”Always “becoming”

PlatoPlatoMetaphysicsMetaphysics

Ream of Forms-IdeasReam of Forms-Ideas

Higher - PerfectHigher - Perfect

ULTIMATE REALITYULTIMATE REALITY

Not accessible to our Not accessible to our sensessenses

Non-Physical Non-Physical

Not Bound by Space Not Bound by Space and Timeand Time

Never ChangingNever Changing

Always “is”Always “is”

HORSE

Plato's Cave

PlatoPlatoMetaphysicsMetaphysicsBodyBody

Physical Physical Mortal Mortal Changes (Birth, Growth, Death) Changes (Birth, Growth, Death) ImperfectImperfectNon-materialNon-material

SoulSoulOur permanent FORMOur permanent FORMTimeless – SpacelessTimeless – SpacelessPerfectPerfectImmortal Immortal The The REALREAL You You

So

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Bo

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PlatoPlatoMetaphysicsMetaphysicsPhysical Life is Physical Life is Rehearal for DeathRehearal for Death

The purpose of this life is The purpose of this life is to achieve enlightenment to achieve enlightenment – Penetrate the Ultimate – Penetrate the Ultimate RealityRealityDeath releases the Soul Death releases the Soul from bondage to the from bondage to the physical bodyphysical body

So

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Bo

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PlatoPlatoAesthetics Aesthetics

Opposed the ArtsOpposed the Arts

The Arts attempt to The Arts attempt to represent Physical Realityrepresent Physical Reality

The Physical Reality is an The Physical Reality is an imperfect representation of imperfect representation of Ultimate Reality (Forms)Ultimate Reality (Forms)

Therefore, the Arts are Therefore, the Arts are twice as deceptive at twice as deceptive at Physical RealityPhysical Reality

The Arts only further The Arts only further confuse people about confuse people about Ultimate RealityUltimate Reality

PlatoPlatoPolitics: The Ideal RepublicPolitics: The Ideal Republic

Philosophically Aware Philosophically Aware Rulers (Governing Class)Rulers (Governing Class)

Police Class Police Class (Protective Class) (Protective Class)

General PopulationGeneral Population(Worker Class)(Worker Class)

AristotleAristotle

Area of StudiesArea of Studies

BiologyBiology

MetaphysicsMetaphysics

LogicLogic

PoliticsPolitics

EthicsEthics

Aesthetics Aesthetics

Psychology Psychology

AristotleAristotle

LogicLogic

3 Areas of Learning3 Areas of Learning

Theoretical Theoretical Practical Practical ProductiveProductive

Logic is a Tool Logic is a Tool underlying all learningunderlying all learning

AristotleAristotleLogicLogic

CategoriesCategoriesSets the boundary of terms Sets the boundary of terms Essential in forming an argument Essential in forming an argument

Dogs PugsAnimals

AristotleAristotle

LogicLogic

Aristotle mapped out and Aristotle mapped out and developed the system of developed the system of Western Logic Western Logic

Propositions Propositions Syllogism Syllogism Basic Fallacies Basic Fallacies

AristotleAristotle

The 4 Causes The 4 Causes

To really “know” something To really “know” something you need to know the causes you need to know the causes of it. of it.

Example: Example:

What is a house? What is a house?

AristotleAristotle

Material CauseMaterial CauseThe “materials” that make up The “materials” that make up the thing. the thing.

Bricks are the material cause of Bricks are the material cause of a Brick Housea Brick House

AristotleAristotle

Material CauseMaterial CauseInsufficiency of the Material CauseInsufficiency of the Material Cause

The materials that make up a thing are not The materials that make up a thing are not the same as the thing itself. the same as the thing itself.

A pile of Bricks is not a HouseA pile of Bricks is not a House

Some things can be made of different Some things can be made of different materials. materials.

Houses can be made of Bricks or Wood or Houses can be made of Bricks or Wood or Metal. Metal.

AristotleAristotleFormal CauseFormal Cause

The The FORMFORM of the thing. of the thing.

The pattern, shape, The pattern, shape, characteristics of a characteristics of a thing.thing.

Not the same as Plato's Not the same as Plato's idea of Forms, i.e. no idea of Forms, i.e. no realm of forms.realm of forms.

The Form does not have The Form does not have an existence apart from an existence apart from the thing as in Plato's the thing as in Plato's concept of Forms concept of Forms

AristotleAristotle

Efficient CauseEfficient Cause

The cause that The cause that changes the materials changes the materials into the thing. into the thing.

The Tools/Instruments The Tools/Instruments used to create the used to create the thing. thing.

AristotleAristotleFinal CauseFinal Cause

The reason, purpose The reason, purpose or goal of a thing. or goal of a thing.

ExEx. The purpose of a . The purpose of a house is to shelter a house is to shelter a people. people.

Final Cause is Final Cause is evidence of an evidence of an Intelligent Designer Intelligent Designer who provides things who provides things with purposewith purpose

Teleology – Nature Teleology – Nature Intelligent Design Intelligent Design

AristotleAristotleFriendshipsFriendships

Close Friends Close Friends

Must be EqualsMust be EqualsOf Good VirtueOf Good VirtueSelfless in the Selfless in the friendshipfriendshipWants what's best Wants what's best and good for the and good for the otherotherMutual respect for Mutual respect for each others strengthseach others strengths

AristotleAristotleEthics: VirtuesEthics: Virtues

Acquired by Habit Acquired by Habit

Not innateNot innate

Habit develops a Habit develops a disposition to act disposition to act virtuously virtuously

The Golden Mean: The Golden Mean: Mid-point between 2 Mid-point between 2 extremesextremes

Courage

Cowardice Recklessness

AristotleAristotleEthics: Virtuous LifeEthics: Virtuous Life

Know what is RightKnow what is Right

Do what is Right Do what is Right

Practical WisdomPractical Wisdom - Make - Make Right Decisions based on Right Decisions based on Good ReasonsGood Reasons

ContemplationContemplation of the Best of the Best things NOT just Good things NOT just Good things – Good is the things – Good is the enemy of the Bestenemy of the Best

Motivation for Doing Motivation for Doing Anything is Flourishing Anything is Flourishing (Full - Meaningful)(Full - Meaningful)