Chapter 6 Questions: Plato- Olivia

What two relationships exist between a Form and some visible thing that "participates" in it?

"Makes intelligible" and "produces"

Why does Plato consider philosophy as "training for dying"?

"Pursuing philosophy, loving wisdom, means wanting to free the soul, to release it from its bondage to the body. But if the separation of the soul from the body is death, it follows that those who practice philosophy aright are cultivating dying."

What is the distinction Plato draws between "science" and "dialect," and how does this relate to the distinction between hypotheses and first principles?

Dialect is a purely intellectual discipline, in which we no longer rely on the world of senses at all. It is a search for the ultimate presuppositions of all our hypothetical explanations and can only be found by recollection of the Forms. Supposed to give us certainty Science is when people examine things in the visible world and posits explanations of them in hypothetical Forms. It relies on the visible world and not solely on the Forms. Sciences do not lead us to the starting point.

Be sure you can sketch the three lines of argument for the reality of the Forms: epistemological, metaphysical, and semantic

Epistemological- We have knowledge and it is enduring, true, rational belief based on instruction. It is not about the world revealed by senses, but about another world that endures. This is the world of the forms. Metaphysical- two things alike have something in common but what they have in common cannot be the same as either one or identical with the two together. Whatever it is in the Form itself The elephant and its' largeness. Theory of reality. . Theory of reality. Semantic- Words get their meanings from the names of Forms. Words describe generalizations that are forms. Elephant- general form Gertrude- specific form The study of words

How will "the many" be "educated" in Plato's ideal republic?

Follow the philosopher king blindly because he knows what's best. Cannot be taught, but they can be persuaded.

What question does the Ring of Gyges story pose?

For Plato and Socrates, the good in life is always some sort of advantage. (being moral) Would using the ring to become invisible and steal bring us the greatest advantage? Can one be moral by doing this? "Glaucon challenges Socrates to prove that being a moral person is something good in itself, not good just because it usually brings good consequences in its wake."

What is happiness? Unhappiness?

Happiness is arete, but being happy is a condition of the soul, and must be when your soul is performing at its optimal level. When all parts of the soul are playing their parts correctly, then we are in harmony with our soul, and we are happy. Unhappiness is when spirit or desire take control, causing disharmony in the soul.

For Further Thought

How persuaded are you by Plato's arguments for the reality of intelligible Forms? If you are not convinced, try to formulate your objections to these arguments in such a way that Plato would have to pay attention.

What is love (eros)?

If we are to love something, then we must lack it. We all want wisdom because wisdom leads to ultimate happiness. It is something we need, lack, and want.

What is the psychology of the just person? Of the unjust person?

Just person: when each part of the soul is performing its role excellently. Reason makes the decisions, supported by spirit, and desire is channeled in appropriate directions. Unjust person: life where soul is out of balance. Desire or spirit take over and leave reason to follow.

Distinguish knowledge from opinion.

Knowledge stays put, is always true, is backed by reason, and is the result of instruction Opinion is changeable, may be true or false, not backed by reason, and is the result of persuasion.

If the objects of knowledge are the Forms, what are the objects of opinion?

Opinion is based on experience, change, and come into existence and out of existence. Forms are absolute truth, so they cannot be opinion because opinion is always changing.

Who should rule in the state? And why? (Pretty important)

PHILOSOPHER KINGS!!! Not everyone is qualified to lead because they do not know how to make decisions with reason to benefit the community. Leaders- make decisions (act as governing part) Laborers- carpenters and plumbers (act as productors) Warriors- those who are free willed and adventurous (act as the protectors)

In what way does Plato agree with Parmenides? With Heraclitus?

Plato agrees with Parmenides with that objects of reason are objects of knowledge. In this way, they were rationalist. He agreed with Heraclitus with believing that sense objects (senses) are not objects of knowledge.

Explain the analogy of the navigator.

The crew members want to ask the owner of the ship to give the captain position to the strongest of the men. This man may be strong, but he knows nothing about leading a crew of men. He's also deaf and short-sighted No knowledge of naval matters Why would you give control to someone who is not equipped to do so?

Why does Plato think the Form of Bicycle is more real than the bicycle I ride to work?

The form of the bicycle is more real because it does not exclude any other bike. When one thinks of a bike, they do not think of a specific bike, they think of the form of the bike. The Form of the bike is also eternal whereas the specific bike will eventually decrease.

What are the parts of the soul? What are their functions

The soul is divided into three parts: desire, spirit, and reason. Think of the myth of the Charioteer: Reason drives the soul, and should remain in charge. Its job is to guide us to make proper decisions. Desire, one of the horses, motivates us to do things. If we had no desire to achieve anything we would sit on the couch like a potato and accomplish nothing in life. Spirit animates our lives and puts meaning behind things. It gives us emotion.

What is the argument that purports to show that the Starting Point -- the rightmost point on the Divided Line -- is the Form of the Good?

The starting point is something that need not be explained for its truth is evident. The mind directs and is the cause of everything. Must be able to rest with certainty within these things. Socrates is in prison, but why? Because he is resting in what is good "This suggests that explanations in which we can "rest" must be framed in terms of what is good. Because explanations proceed by citing Forms, the ultimate explanation for everything must be in terms of the Form of the Good." It is the starting point because everything must be explained by it.

What argument is offered for the soul's immortality?

There are two kinds of things in the world: Those that move only when something moves them Those who move themselves The soul is a self-mover Socrates remains in prison because he chooses not to move his soul; he is "besouled" The reason the body dies is because it is not a self-mover; therefore, because that soul is one, and is a source of life and energy, it can be immortal. Body and soul are separate beings Soul inhabits body when we are born, but participates in the Form of the Good before doing so. Life is the very essence of the soul and because things can't abandon their nature, the soul is eternal.

What does an educator do for those he or she "teaches"?

They should act only as an orator. They should use the simplest methods to try and direct their pupil's minds toward truth. "Education is not suffering the mind with facts, but turning the soul to face reality, trusting that the student will recognize the truth when confronted by it."

How do Plato's arguments up to this point help him achieve his aims?

This won't be relevant

How is justice in the soul related to moral behavior in the community? Relate this to the image of the man, the lion, and the monster.

When the man (reason) is in control and the lion (spirit) and the beast (desire) follow in line with it, harmony is produced within the soul and happiness is derived from it. We will then make decisions based on reason, which will lead to a moral compass and our community will live in harmony.

Sketch the "ladder" of love.

look at the doc

What are Plato's goals? What does he aim to do?

refute skepticism and relativism Demonstrate there is a truth about reality Show reality is not indifferent from morality and religious beliefs Establish a pattern for a good state (good state being where a good person can live a good life)

Draw Plato's Divided Line and explain what each of its parts represents.

uh yeah look at the doc for this one