So what did Plato have to say about life? Let’s explore some of the most important philosophical texts, including Theaetetus and The Republic, and discover a few key points from the philosopher. I’m sure you have a favorite book of Plato’s, but which one is the most useful for understanding life’s meaning? Hopefully, you’ll find some new insight in these works.
Theaetetus
Theaetetus – what Plato said about life? – The philosopher teaches us that a superior mind cannot consider death as evil or human life as great. Instead, we should regard the world as an orderly mixture of contraries. In a way, Plato’s words are the antidote to our tendency to separate things. However, separating things is not good for us. Keeping things separate is a sign of uncultivated minds.
A sceptical mind will have difficulties understanding Plato’s Theaetetus, because he does not attempt to reconstruct a theory of knowledge. He also does not attempt to compare ideas or the mathematical sciences, which are both certain and universal. He does, however, trace the Megarian influence in the work. In addressing these concerns, the student needs to understand that Plato’s ideas are not universal and are not derived from the same principles.
In the second part of Theaetetus, Socrates questions the validity of knowledge as a product of sense perception. In response to this objection, he introduces Heraclitean flux to demonstrate that nothing is in itself a single thing, but is in a process of coming into being. Hence, things only draw their meaning from their referential difference to other things.
Socrates repeatedly questions Theaetetus. He demonstrates that knowledge is an opinion formed through the elements that make up an account. This third definition fails to include the knowledge of the object. Socrates is able to form a true opinion only after knowledge. But his second definition – the ability to judge something without knowledge – is far from a useful one.
It is difficult to classify the dialogues in Theaetetus. In addition to the Apology and Sophist, the dialogues are divided into three categories, early, middle, and late. The second dialogue, however, is the only one in which Plato describes a trial. Despite its late position, the dialogues are often considered to be connected and may be read together.
Socrates begins the dialogue by discussing the nature of knowledge. He has previously heard that the first elements are names and that definition begins when letters combine. He adds to his list of virtues liberality and benevolence. After hearing these words, the young man invites Socrates to sit beside him. The dialogue ends with a discussion about the nature of human nature, which will eventually lead to a deeper understanding of human life.
In addition to the ego-driven pursuit of material success, Plato believes that the shrewds and cows of the world are occupied with feasting. Those who do not experience these things are carried downward by life. They never rise up toward the truth or taste its lasting pleasure. Moreover, the cunning man is often dissatisfied with himself and feels inferior to his child-like state.
Whether or not we pursue Truth, it is important to seek knowledge. Ultimately, this will help us remember our premortal life. More Truth can nourish our wings, leading to more trips to the heavens and making us philosophers. But if we don’t pursue Truth, we will be reincarnated over again. But the question remains, “Why should we seek Truth?”
Plato’s philosophy is based on three earlier philosophers. His synthesis was intellectually superior to the other two. Demokritos, Plotinus, and Aristotle differ in their views on the role of the mind in society. Plato believed that life should be lived through contemplation, instead of living an active life. The former is important, but the latter is necessary.
In modern philosophy, we are more likely to use the axiom ‘all knowledge is experience’. This phrase is often used by contemporary thinkers to say that the original source of knowledge and the final criterion for truth is outward. But the term ‘experience’ also encompasses imagination. This axiom is not necessarily true. Theaetetus also stresses the importance of perception as the basis for true knowledge.
Protagoras is a friend of Socrates. In the beginning, Protagoras claims to be the greatest philosopher in the world. But the latter is in fact the greatest philosopher of all time. He explains that the ethos of virtue is the source of human virtue. Those who practice virtue must understand that the world is full of men who seek to learn and teach.
The Republic
The Republic of Plato is an interesting text, for it not only represents the moral psychology of its author, but also establishes it as a key text in the genre of political works in antiquity. Despite its historical context, the republic is a unique work that explicitly distances itself from the oligarchic political parties of Plato’s time and place. Its central theme is the separation of producers from philosophers.
In The Republic of Plato, the society is divided into three classes: auxiliaries, guardians, and believers. The Auxiliaries are warriors who are responsible for the defense of the city and maintaining peace at home. They enforce the guardians’ convictions and make sure producers abide by them. The second class is belief, which is a kind of cognition and object of the visible realm. In this state, man has no access to Forms and instead takes sensible particulars as the most real things.
Although Plato questions many of the political proposals he discusses in The Republic, he does not mean to cancel them. Rather, he seeks to clarify the moral implications of those proposals. Socrates shows that it is better to be wise and just than to be unjust. And the other major political contribution of The Republic is its discussion of utopianism, communism, feminism, and totalitarianism.
The Republic of Plato may not be considered a feminist text, but it is still one of the few books in western philosophy to make a feminist case. Despite Plato’s apparent feminism, he still reflects a certain view of women, albeit a very limited one. For instance, he proposes the abolition of the private family, a move that could have a profound effect on women’s lives.
The Republic does not purport to be a history text. However, this does not make it ahistorical. The concerns of Plato about corruption are based on his experiences and understanding of history. But Plato does not hint at psychological determinism or a desire for power. In fact, he explicitly allows for transitions from a corrupt regime. If a philosopher is a politician, they can write a law to rule the city.
The most basic challenge of all is that of justice. In the early dialogues of the Republic of Plato, the Immoralists attempt to convince Socrates that his idea of justice is a mere illusion. This is because a person can only understand what he is looking for by applying the principles of justice. Socrates compares a human soul to a lion. In this case, the justice of the person is a result of the actions of an individual.
The Republic of Plato is an important text in the study of political and ethical thought. Many general studies of Platonic philosophy, such as Benson 2006 and Fine 2008, will provide a good overview of the Republic. For in-depth analysis, however, readers should seek out Adkins 1960 and Richard Balot’s 2001. Both texts have excellent discussions of the Republic. You may also wish to consult a copy of Plato’s Republic, published in English by Project Gutenberg in the 1970s.
Socrates’ strategy relies on an analogy between a person and a city. While the analogy itself is not particularly useful, it is nevertheless useful and can introduce new ideas about justice and happiness. In the Republic, the argument for justice is crucial. Ultimately, it is a reflection of Socrates’ understanding of human nature. The question of justice depends on the understanding of the human soul. This, of course, is not the end of the argument; it is simply a necessary part of the argument.