2. Plato's Understanding of Reality

Summary

This video delves into Plato's philosophy, emphasizing his belief in an eternal, immutable truth accessible only through reason, not the senses. Plato's rationalism posits that the physical world is imperfect and unreliable, contrasting sharply with the realm of forms—a world of truth and unchanging reality. The video explores Plato's theory of innate knowledge, suggesting that learning is a process of recollection from a prior existence. It also touches on his dualist view, where the soul, not the body, seeks truth, and the philosopher's pursuit of knowledge as a form of spiritual practice.

Takeaways

• 😇 Plato believed that truth is eternal, unchanging, and perfect, which is the basis of knowledge.
• 🤔 He distinguished between knowledge and opinion, with the latter being transient, changeable, and imperfect.
• 👀 Plato argued that our senses are unreliable and the physical world is full of change and decay, making it unsuitable for finding truth.
• 🔍 He rejected the idea of Pyrrhonism, which claims that truth can be discovered through sensory experience.
• 🧠 Plato advocated for rationalism, suggesting that truth is discoverable through reason and logical thinking, leading to a priori knowledge.
• 📚 He introduced the concept of innate rationalism, proposing that all truths are inherent within us from birth as part of our rational nature.
• 🔑 Plato's 'Meno's Paradox' illustrates that learning is a process of recollection, not the acquisition of new knowledge.
• 📐 The 'slave boy' example in the Meno dialogue demonstrates how innate knowledge can be revealed through questioning.
• 🌐 Plato posited the existence of the intelligible realm of forms, an eternal reality where truth resides, as opposed to the changing empirical world.
• 🧘 He was a dualist, asserting that the non-physical soul is the part of us that pre-existed and seeks truth, hindered by the physical body.
• 💀 Philosophy, for Plato, was akin to practicing death, as it allows the soul to be free from the body's distractions and grasp the truth.

Q & A

What is Plato's view on the nature of truth?

Plato argued that truth is eternal, everlasting, immutable, meaning unchanging and perfect. He believed that this must be the case because knowledge pertains to that which does not change.

How does Plato differentiate between knowledge and opinion?

Plato drew a clear distinction between knowledge and opinion. Unlike truth, opinion is transient, fleeting, mutable, and imperfect. He noticed that our senses are unreliable, leading to the conclusion that truth cannot be found in the empirical world.

What is Plato's stance on the physical empirical world and its relation to truth?

Plato believed that the physical empirical world, which we perceive with our senses, is full of change and decay and therefore cannot be the source of truth. He rejected the idea that truth can be discovered by our sense experience of the world.

How does Plato's view on the senses impact his epistemology?

Plato argued that our senses are unreliable and can lead to inaccurate perceptions, such as in the example of optical illusions. This led him to conclude that we cannot trust our senses to find truth.

What is the concept of a priori knowledge according to Plato?

Plato argued that truth must be discoverable by reason, which he called a priori knowledge. This is knowledge gained through thinking things through in a rational or logical way, as opposed to empirical knowledge derived from the senses.

What is the argument from deduction that Plato uses to argue against the physical world as a source of truth?

Plato's argument from deduction starts with the definition of truth as immutable and eternal, then moves to the definition of the physical world as changeable and imperfect, concluding that truth cannot be found in the physical world.

What is innate rationalism, and how does Plato argue for it?

Innate rationalism is the belief that all truths are innate, meaning they are within us from birth as part of our rational nature. Plato argued for this by suggesting that we have an innate understanding of concepts like absolute beauty and true goodness, which we can recollect through reason.

Can you explain the example of the slave boy in Plato's Meno dialogue?

In the Meno dialogue, Plato uses the example of the slave boy to illustrate how geometrical truths can be discovered through a series of questions asked by Socrates. The boy demonstrates knowledge of geometry without having been taught, suggesting that he is recollecting innate knowledge.

What does Plato mean by the 'intelligible realm of the forms'?

The 'intelligible realm of the forms' is Plato's term for a world of truth and unchanging reality, which is the object of knowledge. He believed that this realm is the source of our innate knowledge and is separate from the empirical, changing world of our senses.

What is Plato's divided line, and what does it represent?

Plato's divided line represents the separation between the realm of opinion and the realm of truth. It is a metaphorical line that divides the empirical visible world, which is full of illusion and appearance, from the intelligible realm of the forms, which is the world of truth and reality.

How does Plato's view on the soul relate to his epistemology and ontology?

Plato believed that the soul, being non-physical and unaffected by change and decay, is the part of us that pre-existed and can recollect truth. This belief in the soul's pre-existence and its capacity to grasp truth supports his epistemological and ontological claims about the nature of knowledge and reality.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Plato's Theory of Knowledge and Reality

This paragraph introduces Plato's philosophy, focusing on his concept of reality and the role of reason over sensory perception. Plato posited that truth is eternal, unchanging, and perfect, and that knowledge is distinct from opinion, which is transient and imperfect. He criticized the empirical world for its constant change and decay, arguing that our senses are unreliable. Plato advocated for rationalism, suggesting that truth is discovered through reason, leading to a priori knowledge. He also introduced the concept of innate rationalism, proposing that all truths are inherent from birth and can be recollected through Socratic questioning, as illustrated by the example of the slave boy in the Meno dialogue.

05:01

🌐 Plato's Realms of Existence and Dualism

The second paragraph delves into Plato's ontological claims, contrasting the immutable and eternal 'Forms' or 'Ideas' in the intelligible realm with the changing, sensory world of appearances. Plato's divided line separates opinion from truth, with the intelligible realm being the domain of knowledge and the empirical world that of opinion. He further argues that the soul, being unchanging, is the part of us that pre-existed and seeks truth, while the physical body is a hindrance. Plato's dualism is evident in his belief in both physical and non-physical existence, with the philosopher's goal being to detach from bodily pleasures and focus on the soul's pursuit of truth. The ultimate aim is for the soul to grasp truth in its purest form after death, when it is free from the body.

Keywords

💡Reality

In the context of the video, 'reality' refers to the nature of existence and the world as understood by Plato. It is central to the theme as Plato's philosophy distinguishes between the physical world and the world of forms. The script mentions that Plato believed in an 'intelligible realm of the forms' as the true reality, which is unchanging and perfect, contrasting with the empirical world of change and decay.

💡Reason

Reason, as discussed in the video, is the reliance on rational thought and logical deduction rather than sensory experience to understand the world. It is a key concept in Plato's philosophy, where he argues that truth is discovered through reason, leading to a priori knowledge. The script illustrates this with the example of Plato rejecting the idea that truth can be found through sensory experiences, which he deems unreliable.

💡Truth

'Truth' in the video is defined as eternal, everlasting, and immutable, meaning it does not change. It is a fundamental concept in Plato's philosophy, as he believed that knowledge pertains to what is unchanging. The video script explains that Plato argued for the existence of an eternal realm of truth, separate from the changing physical world, which is the object of opinion rather than knowledge.

💡Opinion

Opinion, according to the video, is transient, fleeting, mutable, and imperfect, in contrast to truth. It is formed through sensory experiences and is subject to change. The script uses the example of an optical illusion to demonstrate the unreliability of our senses and how they can lead to opinions that are not accurate reflections of reality.

💡A Priori Knowledge

A priori knowledge, as explained in the video, is knowledge gained independently of experience, through reason and logical deduction. It is a central concept in Plato's rationalism, where he argues that true knowledge of the unchanging realm of forms can only be achieved through this method. The script describes this as a process of thinking things through in a rational way, separate from empirical evidence.

💡Innate Rationalism

Innate rationalism, as discussed in the video, is the belief that all truths are inherent within us from birth and are part of our rational nature. Plato argued that we have an innate understanding of concepts like absolute beauty and goodness, which we recollect rather than learn. The script provides the example of the slave boy in the Meno dialogue, who is able to discover geometrical truths without being taught, illustrating this concept.

💡Recollection

Recollection, in the context of the video, refers to the process by which we retrieve knowledge that we already possess but have forgotten. It is a key part of Plato's theory of knowledge, where learning is a matter of remembering truths from a prior existence. The script describes Socrates guiding the slave boy to recollect geometrical knowledge through a series of questions, without imparting new information.

💡Forms

Forms, in Platonic philosophy, are abstract entities that represent the essence of all things. They are the unchanging and perfect archetypes that exist in the intelligible realm, as opposed to the physical world of appearances. The video script explains that the world of forms is the true reality and the object of knowledge, where our innate knowledge originates.

💡Divided Line

The divided line is a metaphor used by Plato to illustrate the distinction between the world of opinion and the world of truth. It represents the separation of the visible and intelligible realms, with the lower section representing the empirical world of change and the upper section representing the unchanging world of forms. The video script explains this concept as a clear division between the realms that can be understood through different types of knowledge.

💡Dualism

Dualism, in the context of the video, refers to the belief in two distinct realms of existence: the physical and the non-physical. Plato argued that the soul, which is non-physical, pre-existed and is capable of grasping the truth of the intelligible realm, separate from the changing physical body. The script describes this as Plato's belief that the body hinders the soul's ability to attain truth, making him a dualist.

💡Philosopher

In the video, a 'philosopher' is depicted as someone who seeks truth and knowledge, particularly through the rejection of bodily pleasures and the pursuit of the non-physical soul's understanding. The script describes the true philosopher as one who despises the distractions of the body and focuses on the soul's quest for truth, which is achieved through the practice of philosophy and the separation of the soul from the body at death.

Highlights

Plato's understanding of reality emphasizes the eternal, unchanging, and perfect nature of truth.

Plato distinguishes between knowledge and opinion, with knowledge being unchanging and opinion being transient and mutable.

The physical world is seen as full of change and decay, making it unreliable for finding truth.

Plato argues that our senses are unreliable, as demonstrated by optical illusions.

Plato rejects Pyrrhus ISM, asserting that truth cannot be discovered by our senses but by reason.

Plato introduces the concept of a priori knowledge, which is gained through rational and logical thinking.

Plato's argument for rationalism is structured as a deductive argument, starting with definitions and leading to a conclusion.

Plato argues for innate rationalism, suggesting that all truths are in us from birth and are part of our rational nature.

The example of the slave boy in Plato's Meno illustrates the process of recollection of innate knowledge.

Plato's epistemological claims lead to ontological claims about the existence of an intelligible realm of forms.

Plato's divided line represents the separation between the world of opinion and the world of truth.

The non-physical soul is the part of us that can grasp truth, as it is unaffected by change and decay.

Plato's dualism separates the physical body from the non-physical soul, with the body hindering the soul's pursuit of truth.

The true philosopher, according to Plato, would despise bodily pleasures and focus on the soul's pursuit of truth.

Plato describes philosophy as practicing for death, where the soul is free to grasp truth without the body's interference.

Plato's philosophy has a significant impact on the understanding of knowledge, reality, and the pursuit of truth.

Transcripts

this is the first video on Plato and

it's all about his understanding of

reality his reliance on reason as

opposed to the senses Plato argued that

truth is eternal everlasting immutable

that means unchanging and perfect he

said this must be the case because

knowledge pertains to that which is

doesn't change

he drew a clear distinction between

knowledge and opinion unlike truth

opinion is transient it's fleeting it

doesn't last

it is also mutable meaning it's

changeable and end it is imperfect

Plato noticed but unlike truth the

physical empirical world which we see

around us with our senses is full of

change and decay

you also notice that our senses are

unreliable he said we neither hair and

or see anything accurately we can see

this in the example of an optical

illusion so if you have a look at the

squares it looks at first glance that's

square a and square B are very different

colors whereas actually if we were to

draw a line of color between them we can

see that's in fact they are exactly the

same color that our perception of the

color is inaccurate in the way that we

perceive it so we can't trust our senses

Plato argued that for this reason truth

cannot be found in our empirical world

you therefore rejected and Pyrrhus ISM

which is the claim that truth can be

discovered by our sense experience of

the world he said this method can only

form opinions how could any rational man

affirm the identity of the infallible

meaning the perfect with the fallible

meaning the imperfect that which is is

knowable he said something other than

that which is would be a pie noble

meaning something you can only have an

opinion about instead Plato argued truth

must be discoverable by reason that

means thinking things through in a

rational or logical way knowledge gained

in this way is called a priori knowledge

so if we recap Plato's argument for

rationalism we can look at it in this

way

the first premise is that truth is found

in perfect immutable and eternal the

second premise the physical world is not

perfect immutable

and eternal and the conclusion truth is

not found in the physical world the type

of argument used here is an argument

from deduction he's starting with the

definition of truth he's then moving to

a definition of the physical world and

from those two definitions he's

concluding that truth cannot be found in

the physical world so this argument

looks like the conclusion foolish

premises that would make it valid and

then we also need to question whether

the premises are true in order to see if

it is a sound argument which we will do

later on in another video play to argue

for a very specific kind of rationalism

called innate rationalism he argued that

all truths are innate in other words

they are in us at least from birth and

are part of our rational nature so for

example even though we haven't

experienced things like absolute beauty

or true goodness in the world because

these things are perfect and the things

we see in the world or not we all have

an innate understanding of what these

concepts mean so we understand the idea

of absolute beauty and we understand the

idea of complete goodness whenever we

learn something Plato argued that we are

simply recalling these truths from

within experiences we have might trigger

this self discovery but they don't

actually give us any additional

knowledge he said we must reject the

conception of Education professed by

those who say they can put into mind

knowledge that was not there before this

is a capacity which is innate we do not

learn and what we call learning is only

a process of a recollection Plato gives

the example of the slave boy in one of

his dialogues called Kamino he shows in

the Meno how the slave boy is able to

discover geometrical truths through

Socrates asking him a series of

questions he does not give him any new

information so Socrates was the teacher

of Plato Plato used him as a character

in his dialogues to put forward his own

views we read observe closely whether he

strikes you as recollecting or as

learning for me Tony boy do you know

what a square figure is like this

Socrates draws in the sand and continues

to ask questions now watch his progress

and recollecting Socrates says by the

proper use of the memory he will go on

and discover something by joint inquiry

with me while I nearly ask questions and

do not teach him Socrates continues to

ask questions and the slave boy

demonstrates knowledge of geometry

through his answers without anyone

having taught him Socrates says and only

through questions put to him he will

understand recovering the knowledge out

of himself and is not this recovery of

knowledge in himself and by himself

recollection

Plato's epistemological claims his

claims about knowledge lead him to make

some very extreme claims about

what exists about ontology Plato argued

that our innate knowledge must have come

from a prior existence because we can

only recollect what we have either once

acquired or always had Socrates points

out that the slave boy could not have

acquired his knowledge in this life as

no one has ever taught him since trees

have been with us in lately since birth

we must have grasped them in some

previous existence and carried them with

us is it not obvious at once Socrates

asks that he had them and learnt them

during some other time Plato argued that

whenever we come to know something we

are recognizing or remembering some

truth that we've learned before this

life and which has always been in us

remember Plato believed that the

definition of truth was that which is

immutable and eternal so this prior

existence can't have been in a reality

like our own it must have been in an

eternal reality a realm unaffected by

change and decay and Plato called Israel

the intelligible realm of the forms a

world of truth and unchanging reality

which is the object of knowledge Plato

characterized the empirical visible

world on the other hand as one of

illusion and appearance the changing

world of sensation which is the object

of opinion he argued that the two realms

could be clearly separated by a line

divided and this has come to be known as

Plato's divided line between opinion and

truth Saito's ontological claims don't

stop there he says the only part of us

unaffected by change in decay is the

non-physical soul because our bodies

change and they decay so it must be the

soul that pre-existed and wreck Lex

truth belief in both physical and a

non-physical existence makes Plato a

duelist

the physical body he said hinders the

recollection of truth by the soul its

companionship disturbs the soul and

hinders it from attaining truth Plato

argued that because of this the true

philosopher would despise the so-called

pleasures of the body avoiding so far as

it can all Association or contact with

the body and instead concern himself

with the soul which reaches out toward

the reality Plato described doing

philosophy as practicing dying at death

the body is separated from the soul and

the soul exists alone free to grasp

truth which is the aim of the

philosopher this video has been brought

to you by jest education thank you for

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