Understanding Plato’s Philosophy of the Soul and Society
Understanding Plato’s Philosophy
A degree of knowledge is episteme, ascertain who has a speech. Dianoia refers to discursive thought going from premises to the hypothesis that concludes. Noesis is non-discursive intelligence, a state of mind that represents the essence or the idea of goodness. The degree of knowledge, episteme, is the real understanding of the intelligible world.
Anthropology: Conception of the Soul
In the Fedro, Plato compares the human soul to a winged chariot and a pair of horses, one of which is white, beautiful, and good, while the other is black, ugly, and bad. The white horse symbolizes the positive tendencies of man, while the black horse symbolizes negative trends. The charioteer represents man’s intellectual capacity, located in the soul.
The Role of the Charioteer
If the charioteer poorly controls the pair of horses, he will struggle to rise above and enjoy the contemplation of ideas (the intelligible world). If the rebellious horses are not controlled, they may lose balance. The climb depends on many factors; in short, education must lead to the release of what binds and imprisons the highest soul.
Philosophy as Medicine
Mere philosophy is the medicine of the soul, leading to release and healing. According to Plato, rediscovering your soul mate is perfection, as the additional soul had been lost over time.
Parts of the Soul and Virtues
The parts of the soul correspond to three virtues:
- Wisdom: When the soul develops its function.
- Strength: When the soul provides value and the ability to cope with all situations.
- Temperance: When self-control is exercised, preventing disturbance.
- Justice: When each part does what is right.
Material and Eternal Worlds
The body belongs to the world of material things, which is physical, changeable, and perishable. The soul originates from the world of eternal ideas, which is immortal and perfect. These considerations are classified in anthropology and dualism.
Love and Society
The ways that the soul connects to the world of true love are platonic and rational. Society and paideia indicate that we are not equal, as it is based on physical and intellectual capacity. The state must follow nature. There is no justice in the soul when each of its parts performs what is proper. Only then is there harmony, depending on the well-being of all.
Plato’s Ideal Society
Plato considered the key to fostering a better society. He suggested a hierarchy of political regimes:
- Timocracy: Degeneration of aristocracy.
- Oligarchy: Government by those with economic power.
- Democracy: Characterized by freedom and equality, but often leads to chaos.
Contextualization: Life of Plato
Plato was born in 428 or 427 BC in Athens and died in 347 BC. He came from an aristocratic family and had a strong interest in politics. The Peloponnesian War marked the lives of citizens, representing a conflict between two ways of living. Aristocrats did not hide their sympathies. Athens advocated for equality before the law, while Sparta proclaimed military hierarchy. Athens was characterized by commercial interculturality, developing art and culture.
Philosophy and Politics
With the intent to combine philosophy and its application to real politics, Plato left Athens for some time. He traveled to various places where he met other philosophers. Upon returning to Athens, he founded the Academy, where he spent his last years studying relativism and skepticism.
Political Vocation
Democracy begins the search for the ideal. Aristocratic values were in decline, leading to a new political landscape.