I like Plato I think for Humanities and especially aesthetics, the idea of Forms is very unique and still applicable today. I also agree with his ideas on the soul. The eternal nature and the re-inhabitation in another body are both ideas that I agree with.
As far as Aristotle goes I like his idea of ethics and how it is a guide to the "good life". I like how Plato uses the Cave analogy about how we only see shadows and we would probably reject the truth if we could ever leave the cave and go into the sun. The sun represents Goodness/Truth and no one wants to return to the cave after experiencing the sun. I also agree with Plato's ideas on the soul and I like how he breaks them down into appetite, reason and spirit.
Question concerning Plato: Is knowledge perception, and if so how can we live with our actions/consequences?
Chelsea et al. Knowledge is not perceptual for Plato. He is a Rationalist: knowledge comes from rationality, not empirical sources. Remember that the ultimate knowledge is of the Forms, which are not empirically known.
I honestly do not like Plato at all. The idea of an everlasting soul does not make sense to me. Mainly because I grew up and still am a Catholic. The soul for me is something that is mine that God created for me only. Souls moving from person to person over time just does not add up in my way of thinking. I'm not saying it is wrong, it is just how I look at it. I also hate thinking about everything around me. I like to live my life and I believe Plato tries to complicate life by trying to have an explanation for everything. For me it comes down to an opinion, these are what Plato thinks about the soul and knowledge. I think differently and therefore do not agree with Plato and his thoughts.
I liked Plato's theory regarding how humans try to make their life perfect but never get there. His theory compared to the human desire for perfection in life to rules in geometry regarding how to create perfect shapes but never get there. I thought it was interesting because I believe that is definitely true. When I say it is true I am including myself in this as well. I often try to be a perfectionist but never get there, but I have this idea on what it would be like, and always strive to reach the goal of whatever I am trying trying to achieve. I thought it was interesting how Plato believed in that theory because he also believed in a pre existing soul that existed eternally before our birth that knew what perfect was. I do believe Plato was one of the best philosophers of all time. He made a great deal of sense out of the things in the world during the time he lived with so little technology. He truly
I enjoy Plato's theory about Forms. It actually does raise the question as to how we perceive our surroundings. Without being scientific, what is it that makes a tree a tree? There are trees with needles and trees with leaves, yet they are both recognized as trees. I would like to see an extension of Plato's theory in relation to the modern world. With all of the innovations that have been made since his time, would new Forms be created? Would there be a new Form for some of the newer things that have only recently been created? Would these newer things be a part of some "older" Form that Plato knew? Or would the Forms of these things have always been around but never recognized?
I find his views of what happens after death interesting. Instead of only moving on based upon your actions, your base self would also have an influence in what happened to you. Certain people would return as ants or bees because of their personality, while others would return as asses. Others may even return as humans just for the reason that the shape of a human is what suits them best. As for the best situation of moving to the world of pure Forms, I would be very interested to see that. I would like to know what the Tree is, what the Human is, and many other things.
I really like the argument from Plato that knowledge comes from reason. The knowledge we have, we have deduced or taken in from someone else's deductions. There are some things that are above this though. Faith, for one, is an example. It is hard to connect a logical fact to fact about the soul, heaven, an afterlife and ultimately, God. It is interesting to ponder the limits of reason.
I was a pretty big fan of Plato. I really understood his philosophy and it made sense to me. What was really interesting and surprising to me was that we all think of the soul in the afterlife but unlike Plato most of us have never thought of our soul exists before death. Also after reading more of Plato I too have become more of a dualist when it comes to the mind and soul.
I like Plato I think for Humanities and especially aesthetics, the idea of Forms is very unique and still applicable today. I also agree with his ideas on the soul. The eternal nature and the re-inhabitation in another body are both ideas that I agree with.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Aristotle goes I like his idea of ethics and how it is a guide to the "good life".
ReplyDeleteI like how Plato uses the Cave analogy about how we only see shadows and we would probably reject the truth if we could ever leave the cave and go into the sun. The sun represents Goodness/Truth and no one wants to return to the cave after experiencing the sun. I also agree with Plato's ideas on the soul and I like how he breaks them down into appetite, reason and spirit.
Question concerning Plato:
Is knowledge perception, and if so how can we live with our actions/consequences?
Chelsea et al.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge is not perceptual for Plato. He is a Rationalist: knowledge comes from rationality, not empirical sources. Remember that the ultimate knowledge is of the Forms, which are not empirically known.
I honestly do not like Plato at all. The idea of an everlasting soul does not make sense to me. Mainly because I grew up and still am a Catholic. The soul for me is something that is mine that God created for me only. Souls moving from person to person over time just does not add up in my way of thinking. I'm not saying it is wrong, it is just how I look at it. I also hate thinking about everything around me. I like to live my life and I believe Plato tries to complicate life by trying to have an explanation for everything. For me it comes down to an opinion, these are what Plato thinks about the soul and knowledge. I think differently and therefore do not agree with Plato and his thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI liked Plato's theory regarding how humans try to make their life perfect but never get there. His theory compared to the human desire for perfection in life to rules in geometry regarding how to create perfect shapes but never get there. I thought it was interesting because I believe that is definitely true. When I say it is true I am including myself in this as well. I often try to be a perfectionist but never get there, but I have this idea on what it would be like, and always strive to reach the goal of whatever I am trying trying to achieve.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how Plato believed in that theory because he also believed in a pre existing soul that existed eternally before our birth that knew what perfect was.
I do believe Plato was one of the best philosophers of all time. He made a great deal of sense out of the things in the world during the time he lived with so little technology. He truly
Omit the words "He truly" Sorry about that.
DeleteI enjoy Plato's theory about Forms. It actually does raise the question as to how we perceive our surroundings. Without being scientific, what is it that makes a tree a tree? There are trees with needles and trees with leaves, yet they are both recognized as trees. I would like to see an extension of Plato's theory in relation to the modern world. With all of the innovations that have been made since his time, would new Forms be created? Would there be a new Form for some of the newer things that have only recently been created? Would these newer things be a part of some "older" Form that Plato knew? Or would the Forms of these things have always been around but never recognized?
ReplyDeleteI find his views of what happens after death interesting. Instead of only moving on based upon your actions, your base self would also have an influence in what happened to you. Certain people would return as ants or bees because of their personality, while others would return as asses. Others may even return as humans just for the reason that the shape of a human is what suits them best. As for the best situation of moving to the world of pure Forms, I would be very interested to see that. I would like to know what the Tree is, what the Human is, and many other things.
I really like the argument from Plato that knowledge comes from reason. The knowledge we have, we have deduced or taken in from someone else's deductions. There are some things that are above this though. Faith, for one, is an example. It is hard to connect a logical fact to fact about the soul, heaven, an afterlife and ultimately, God. It is interesting to ponder the limits of reason.
ReplyDeleteI was a pretty big fan of Plato. I really understood his philosophy and it made sense to me. What was really interesting and surprising to me was that we all think of the soul in the afterlife but unlike Plato most of us have never thought of our soul exists before death. Also after reading more of Plato I too have become more of a dualist when it comes to the mind and soul.
ReplyDelete