Nietzsche and Plato: Contrasting Philosophies of Western Thought
Nietzsche’s Vitalism vs. Plato’s Idealism
Nietzsche’s 19th-century philosophy, characterized as irrational vitalism, presents an interesting contrast with the rational idealism of Plato (5th-4th century BC). Nietzsche, a professor of Greek at the University of Basel, was a connoisseur of Greek thought. He became a fierce critic of it, considering it the origin and foundation of many evils that have afflicted Western civilization.
Shared Philosophical Ground
Before delving into the significant differences
Read MoreEssential English Vocabulary: Finance, Career & Modern Life
Financial & Career Vocabulary
Key Financial Terms & Concepts
- Inherit: To come into a fortune or money.
- Haggle: To bargain.
- Stock market: A market where stocks and shares are bought and sold.
- Rise: An increase in value or amount.
- Priceless: So precious that its value cannot be determined.
- High-income families: Households with significant earnings.
- Paid on commission: Receiving payment based on sales or performance.
- Go bankrupt: To declare that you are unable to pay your debts.
- Credit card fraud: Illegal
Plato’s Metaphysics: Ideas, Reality, and Knowledge
Platonic Metaphysics: The Theory of Ideas
Plato’s metaphysical theories, known as the Theory of Ideas (or Forms), propose a dualistic reality. For Plato, true knowledge must seek what Parmenides called “what is,” an unchanging and eternal truth that constitutes the true metaphysical structure of reality. This unchanging essence Plato termed an Idea or Form.
Reality is fundamentally divided into two realms:
- The Sensible World: Accessible through our senses, it is the world of physical objects and constant
Mastering English Vocabulary: Precise Definitions & Synonyms
Staunch
Definition 1: Unwavering in Conviction
- Synonyms: intransigent, resolute, unyielding, steadfast
- Antonyms: conciliatory, flexible, yielding, docile
Definition 2: Physically Robust
- Synonyms: strong, powerful, robust, resilient
- Antonyms: weak, feeble, listless, fragile
Gregarious
Definition 1: Sociable and Outgoing
- Synonyms: sociable, communicative, outgoing, convivial
- Antonyms: solitary, withdrawn, aloof, sullen
Adherent
Definition: One Who Follows Others’ Ideas
- Synonyms: fanatic, devotee, zealot, partisan
- Antonyms:
Plato’s Cave Allegory: Reality, Knowledge, and Society
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Plato presents the Allegory of the Cave, undoubtedly his most important and popular myth. Plato expressly states that the allegory serves as a metaphor for human nature, illustrating our education and lack thereof, particularly concerning epistemology. It also has clear implications for other philosophical domains such as ontology, anthropology, politics, and ethics; some interpreters have even seen religious implications.
The description of the allegory, as recounted
Read MoreKant’s Political Philosophy: State, Law, and Republicanism
Kant’s Philosophy of State and Law
Immanuel Kant argues that the State must ensure the exercise of freedom as safely as possible through law, whose characteristic note is coercion. The law refers to real and concrete human actions without considering desires and dispositions. However, autonomous and free individuals are subjected to the ideal of the will represented in the State. This ideal is accepted by all rational wills. These are coercive laws, but they stem from liberty. In fact, they guarantee
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