exam question 1; plato

Immortality of the Soul

Plato's argument that the soul lives on after death, based on the idea that the soul existed before birth and is distinct from the body.

Argument from Recollection

Plato's concept that all learning is recollection, suggesting that our knowledge of abstract forms like equality and goodness implies the existence of immaterial souls. knowledge of innate ideas is acquired before birth.

• we know some things that we havent necessarily acquired through sensory experiences. because of this, our souls mustve existed before entering our bodies.

  1. we have knowledge of the forms

  2. the best explanation of why we have knwoledge of the forms is that we have immaterial souls

     c. therefore, we have immaterial souls.

Forms

Abstract concepts or universals that Plato believed exist in a non-physical realm, such as justice or triangularity, and are the basis for understanding the physical world.

• for example, there is no 1 perfect triangle that we base the triangle-ness of other triangles on.

• or consider the number 2; we can see the number 2, and we can see 2 things, and etc. we have this knowledge of the number 2, but not of any particular two things.

Cebes' Cloak Objection

An objection to the immortality of the soul, comparing the soul to a cloak that outlasts its weaver, questioning the durability and existence of the soul beyond the body.

• just as one would discard an old, worn-out cloak, it seems reasonable to think that the soul would leave the body when it becomes old and worn-out.

• from this analogy stems a lot of “what ifs” like reincarnation, which presents an issue for socrate’s immortality argument.

• reincarnation is an issue for the immortality of the soul because if the soul cant stand on its own and needs a host (reincarnation), then it questions the indestructable claim that socrates makes.

Argument from Invisibility

Plato's argument that the soul, being invisible and not composite, is indestructible, drawing parallels with the unchanging nature of forms.

essentially, its

1. the soul is indestructible

2. the soul is invisible

3. invisible things are unchanged

4. the forms are invisible and unchanged

5. things that dont change are not composite

6. things that arent composite cannot be destroyed.

   c. therefore, the soul is immortal and cannot be destroyed.

Simmias' Harmony Objection

• simmias takes a strategy of “i can mimic your argumetn and end up with something false”

• An objection to the immortality of the soul, likening the soul to a musical harmony that emerges from physical parts, suggesting the soul could be mortal like the harmony of a musical instrument.

• a violin has strings which are physical, but the harmony itself is invisible. The harmony cannot change and be destroyed. So harmonies are immortal. When u stop playing, the harmony is destroyed. Why not think the soul is like that?

• the soul (harmony of the body) only emerges when the body (the violin) is working together.

recall plato’s phaedo

• Story of the trial of socrates. Recap: pissed the ppl off, just wanted to chat. Ton of disciples. Ppl in power claimed he was corrupting the youth. socrates (plato) argues that the soul lives beyond the body 4eva. “Philosophy is preparration for death”. 

  • Arguing that its not so bad that hes abt to die. 

2 arguments FOR the immortality of the soul

1. argument of recolleciton

2. arrgument from invisiblity

2 objections AGAINST the immortality of the soul

1. cebes cloak objection

2. simmias harmony objection