Plato

Plato

A philosopher who combined the principles of Heraclitus and Parmenides, and developed his own unique philosophy regarding existence and reality.

Telos

End, purpose, or goal; the perfection of oneself, separate from the physical world.

Real World (Heraclitus)

Characterized as changeable, in process, always becoming, random, and unknowable, with reality based on matter and senses.

World of Forms (Parmenides)

Unchangeable, eternal, not random, and metaphysical; considered more real than the physical world.

Degrees of Being

A concept by Plato showing that material things are constantly changing and less real than spiritual things which 'are'.

Essence

The unifying glue of each 'thing'; understanding a thing's essence is crucial to understanding its purpose.

Nominalism

The belief that categories are manmade, and there are no actual unifying relationships; everything is unique and separate.

Virtue is Knowledge

Plato's idea that to know the good is to always choose the good, equating morality with knowledge.

Evil is moral ignorance

Plato's belief that evil arises from ignorance of the truth about morality being always good and beneficial.

Reincarnation

The belief held by Plato that the soul takes on another body after death; reflecting his view of the soul's journey.

Human Beings as their Form

Plato's assertion that humans are their essence or Telos, with the soul being the pure spirit and the ultimate purpose for happiness.

The purpose of the body

In Plato's philosophy, questioned whether the body is unimportant or a prison for the soul, contrasting with later beliefs of unity.