PHIL 1301 blinn bradley plato

consequences of the divided line

1. soul is inherently immortal "like knows like"

2. all significant learning is "recollection" anamnesis

3. you can only recollect essences, because greater than the sum of parts

the divided line

The image Plato uses to illustrate the relationships between the intelligible world of Forms and the visible world.

equivocation

The fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same significant word in an argument

mathemata

unchanging first principles of all sciences

the essence of justice (1)

y: paying back what is owed

s: it would be unjust to pay back a weapon to a madman

the essence of justice (2)

y: doing good to friends; harm to enemies

s: a.) is harm essential for justice. b.) what about peacetime?

the essence of justice (3)

y: watching property

s: this makes the just party a "thief"

the essence of justice (4) (first cynical)

y: having and keeping the advantage for the ruler

s: rulers err

the essence of justice (5)

y: one "art" of...

s: by definition, the ruler rules for the ruled

Plato's Epistemology

holds that knowledge of Platonic Ideas is innate, so that learning is the development of ideas buried deep in the soul, often under the midwife-like guidance of an interrogator.

plato's psychology

decline of soul and city

essence of justice

minding your own beeswax

dianoia

power of the soul, knows mathemata. h\][ypothetical/mathematical

anamnesis

The theory of anamnesis says that there are certain concepts or beliefs in the mind from before birth, which explain aspects of the learning process undergone by normal human beings; so, anamnesis is essentially a theory of learning, and may be summed up in a single phrase: learning (mathesis) is anamnesis (recollection).

4 powers of the soul

mind proper, dianoia, perception, intuition

4 pillars of virtue

wisdom, courage, moderation, justice

soul

love of wisdom

love of "honor"

love of "money" (and everything money can buy)

city/state

philosopher-king

military

money-makers

decline of city

monarch (best)

oligarchy (few)

democracy (people rule)

tyranny (worst)