Plato’s Philosophy: Soul, Body, Knowledge, and Virtue
Plato’s Conception of Soul and Body
Plato presents a dualistic view of human beings, emphasizing the priority of the soul over the body. He posits that man *is* his soul, an intermediary reality between two worlds. Plato offers various explanations of the soul:
- The rational soul: Immortal and divine, located in the brain.
- The irascible soul: Inseparable from the body, located in the torso, and mortal.
- The appetitive soul: Source of passions, located in the abdomen, and mortal.
This theory is dualistic because it includes two mortal souls and one immortal soul, the latter connected to the World of Ideas. In the *Phaedo*, Plato argues for the soul’s immortality, although he acknowledges that this doesn’t dispel all doubts. He suggests the soul’s immortality might depend on the will of its creator.
The Human Body According to Plato
Plato views the body as a hindrance to the soul, dragging it down with passions and preventing the contemplation of Ideas. He suggests that death is a release for the philosopher, and philosophy itself is preparation for death.
Destiny of the Soul
Plato accepts the theory of reincarnation, stating that the future of souls depends on their free choices.
Knowledge and Love
1. Reminiscence
Plato addresses the difficulty of seeking knowledge. If we already know something, we don’t need to seek it; if we don’t know it, we won’t recognize it when we find it. His solution is the theory of *reminiscence*: learning is remembering what the soul knew in a previous existence, before its separation from the body. The soul had prior knowledge of the Ideas.
2. Dialectics
Plato distinguishes between two ways of knowing:
- Opinion: Sensible knowledge of the visible world.
- Science: Knowledge of the intelligible world, leading to the Idea of Being.
He contrasts the methods of mathematics and dialectics:
- Mathematics uses a descending method, starting with hypotheses and reaching conclusions with the help of visible images.
- Dialectic employs an ascending method, treating hypotheses as stepping stones to reach a non-hypothetical principle, without using images. It moves from one Idea to the supreme Idea.
Education, including physics and mathematics, promotes diverse knowledge.
3. Love
Love, for Plato, is an ascension from the particular case to the supreme Idea, a transition through intermediate Ideas. Dialectic and love are paths to these Ideas, requiring the power of the Good, leading to justice and Platonic philosophy.
Platonic Ethics and Politics
Plato’s ethics are intertwined with his politics. He believes virtue is not innate and cannot be taught in the same way the Sophists taught “democratic virtue” (the art of managing one’s own and public affairs). Plato focuses on moral virtue:
- Virtue as Wisdom: Aims to unify all virtues under the Idea of the Good.
- Virtue as Purification: The virtuous life purifies the soul from passions and the body, allowing access to the Ideas. A good and virtuous life is a mixed life, accepting pleasure in moderation.
- Virtue as Harmony: Justice is fundamental, consisting of an agreement between the three parts of the soul. Harmony arises when each part performs its function: the rational part guides, the irascible and appetitive parts are mastered.
This harmony leads to a just and virtuous individual. Virtue is the beauty, well-being, and health of the soul, and justice is the harmony of the individual. Plato identifies four cardinal virtues:
- Prudence
- Fortitude
- Temperance
- Justice