Introduction to Philosophy: Plato, Existentialism, and the Meaning of Life

Posted on Oct 11, 2024 in Philosophy and ethics

Introduction to Philosophy

Plato (427-347 BC)

Plato, a follower of Socrates in Athens, was one of the first to use the word “philosophy.” He is also the first philosopher whose complete works, including dialogues, have been preserved. Plato’s philosophy is best understood through his dialogues, which often explore the concept of beauty.

Theory of Ideas

  1. If we can distinguish between right and wrong, it implies that “being fair” is something real.
  2. Justice is also something real.
  3. Justice is the quality that all fair things share.
  4. Justice is not merely a property of things.
  5. There is a difference between justice and fairness, independent of the things themselves.
  6. Justice itself (independent and objective) is the idea of justice.

All of Plato’s works revolve around this concept. The word “idea” is of Greek origin and was used by Plato in a new way. At this time, the ideas that come to mind are not personal; they seem to exist independently.

Characteristics of Ideas
  • Ideas are immutable (unchanging), while things are changeable.
  • Ideas are universal (applicable to all cases), while things are particular.
  • Ideas are unique, while things are multiple.
  • Ideas are intelligible, while things are sensible.

Plato spoke of a world of ideas and a world of things. Ideas are independent and have intrinsic value, while things are dependent on ideas.

Platonism

There is an intelligible reality (the world of ideas) and a sensible reality (the world of things). Ideas are not located in any specific place (they are intelligible) but are a reality that we can discover through the search for truth.

Philosophy and its Questions

Philosophy asks fundamental questions that affect us on a global scale. These questions are enigmatic because they concern the nature of all things. They affect us deeply because we experience these things as mysteries. They impact us as human beings in our entirety.

Critical Distance

Philosophy requires critical distance from prejudices, scientific assumptions, and the everyday experience of things.

Philosophy and Religion

Religion is not a rational answer but a response to the enigma of existence. It views existence as a mystery that profoundly questions us, with the belief that this mystery has a transcendent meaning beyond our understanding. This attitude of mystery should be accompanied by confidence through faith.

Philosophy and Art

The artist reveals the wonder of existence through objects. A work of art transcends its value as a mere object. Things that we consider art transport us to a dimension where the presence of things becomes significant and worthy of contemplation. Beautiful objects are those whose presence attracts our attention and deserves to be observed. It is not a specific characteristic that makes them beautiful, but their mere presence. They have a symbolic character because their presence has a meaning beyond itself. The artist attempts to express this wonder through their work.

Duchamp’s Provocation

The artist Duchamp took an ordinary urinal and placed it in a museum. He wanted to challenge the traditional definition of art and show that any object, when placed in a specific context and presented as art, deserves to be considered as such.

Problems of Philosophy

  1. The Problem of Being
  2. The Problem of Existence
  3. The Problem of Transcendence

1) The Problem of Being

The fundamental problem is that all things exist. Philosophy originated from this question. It is the difference between something that is beautiful and the concept of beauty itself. Being is what all things have in common. To understand something fully is to understand its being.

2) The Problem of Existence

The problem of human existence leads to the problem of existence in general.

Life

Life is not just what constitutes human beings; it is the entirety of existence itself, viewed as both a problem and a responsibility. We experience life as a problem because we find ourselves existing without having chosen to be here.

Characteristics of Humans
  • Humans take ownership of their existence. Taking ownership means becoming aware of and responsible for one’s existence.
  • Humans are responsible for their lives and must move forward with them as a project.
  • Humans are aware of their existence as a problem, unlike other things.
  • Humans take responsibility for the existence of things in general because they are conscious of them and integrate them into their projects. For example, a stone has no projects; projects related to stones are human projects.
  • Humans are responsible for the existence of things in general because they are conscious of them and integrate them into their projects.

3) The Problem of Transcendence

When we become aware of our existence and take responsibility for it, we question the meaning of it all.

  • Religious Perspective: Life has a meaning beyond our ability to understand.
  • Atheist Perspective: Life has no inherent meaning beyond what we create. Reducing existence to absurdity and claiming that human responsibility is meaningless are attempts to avoid the responsibility that comes with existence.

20th-Century Philosophy: Martin Heidegger

Martin Heidegger was neither an atheist nor an existentialist. He focused on the concept of “being-there” (Dasein) to describe human existence. Existentialism, in contrast, often laments the absence of inherent meaning and denies the possibility of transcendence. Heidegger’s philosophy emphasizes that existence precedes essence; humans are not defined by any pre-existing nature. Humans are characterized primarily by their existence. They are thrown into existence without a predetermined purpose and must create meaning for themselves.