Plato’s Philosophy: Soul, Knowledge, and Society
Plato’s Theory of Knowledge
A degree of knowledge is episteme. “Dianoia” ascertains discursive thought, going from premises to the hypothesis that concludes. “Noesis” is non-discursive intelligence, a state of mind that understands the essences, or the idea of goodness. The degree of knowledge, episteme, is the real one. He who has come to know the idea of goodness well, and has come to the intelligible world, knows that the world below is a mere copy of the above.
Plato’s Anthropology: Conception of the Soul
In Fedro, Plato compares the human soul to a winged chariot and a couple of horses, one of which is white, beautiful, and good, and the other is black, ugly, and bad. The white horse symbolizes the positive tendencies of man. The black horse symbolizes negative trends. The charioteer symbolizes man’s intellectual capacity and is located in the soul, which lives in the head and the world of ideas. If the charioteer poorly controls the pair of horses, you will not be able to rise well above and enjoy the contemplation of ideas (intelligible world). If the horses rebel, not only will you not ascend, but you may lose your equilibrium. The climb depends on many factors; in short, education has to lead to the release of what binds and imprisons the highest soul. Philosophy is the medicine of the soul: release and cure. According to Plato, to rediscover your soul mate is perfection (an additional soul that was lost in the beginning).
Parts of the Soul and Ethical Virtues
Each part of the soul corresponds to three virtues:
- Wisdom: When the soul is developed further in its function.
- Strength: When the soul gives value and the ability to cope with all situations.
- Temperance: When the soul is controlled and does not disturb the man.
- Justice: If each party does what is right.
The body belongs to the world of material things; it is physical, changeable, and perishable. The soul is originally from the world of eternal ideas; it is immortal and perfect. These considerations are classified as dualistic anthropology. The ways that the soul has to ascend to the world of truth are platonic love and the rational manner.
Society and Paideia
We are not equal; society is based on physical and intellectual capacity. The state must follow nature. In the soul, there is no justice when each of its parts performs what is proper. Only then is there harmony, depending on the good of all. Plato considered paideia as the key to fostering a better society.
Hierarchy of Political Regimes
The perfect state is a utopian state of the aristoi.
- Timocracy: Degeneration of aristocracy.
- Oligarchy: Government of those who have economic power.
- Democracy: Characterized by freedom and equality. This is not good; everyone does what they want and not what they owe.
Contextualization
Life
Plato was born in 428 or 427 BC in Athens and died in 347 BC. He was from an aristocratic family and had a strong interest in politics. The Peloponnesian War marked the lives of citizens and represented a conflict between two ways of living. Aristocrats did not hide their sympathy. Athens advocated for equality before the law. Sparta, however, proclaimed military hierarchy. Athens was characterized by being a commercial and intercultural city; it developed art and culture. Intending to combine philosophy and its application to real politics, Plato left Athens for some time. He toured various places where he met other philosophers. Upon returning to Athens, he founded the Academy, where he spent his last years of life studying relativism and skepticism.
Political Vocation
With the arrival of democracy, the search for an ideal government began. Aristocratic values and the aristocracy were in decline.