Difference between revisions of "Plato"
(removing dubious claim) |
(add) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumb|Raphael's depiction of Plato in '''The School of Athens'''.]] | [[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumb|Raphael's depiction of Plato in '''The School of Athens'''.]] | ||
| − | '''Plato''' was a great [[Greek philosopher]] who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, | + | '''Plato''' was a great [[Greek philosopher]] who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of [[Socrates]] and founded the Academy, whre Plato taught his philosophy, which entailed many separate disciplines. |
| + | ==Influence== | ||
| + | Plato is one of the half-dozen most influential philosophers in world history, and his work is studied today in every philosophy departme | ||
| + | nt. | ||
| + | Plato's most famous work is [[The Republic (Philosophy)|''The Republic'']]. One of Plato's pupils was [[Aristotle]], an equally impotant philosopher with a very diffeent philosophy. | ||
| − | Although Plato cannot be described as a theist, neo-Platonism from the second and third centuries B.C. | + | Although Plato cannot be described as a theist, he influenced the Greek '''neo-Platonism''' from the second and third centuries B.C., which did have a major influence on early Christian teachings. |
| + | ==Style== | ||
Plato's works are different from the majority of philosophical works in style and structure. He wrote dialogs which combined elements of both Greek tragedy and philosophy. His works are conversational dramas filled with irony and 'hidden' content which only the experienced reader will recognize and understand. And he did not write explicit treatises, instead slowly and indirectly revealing his ideas over the course of dozens of dialogues written across the course of his life through the words of his character. | Plato's works are different from the majority of philosophical works in style and structure. He wrote dialogs which combined elements of both Greek tragedy and philosophy. His works are conversational dramas filled with irony and 'hidden' content which only the experienced reader will recognize and understand. And he did not write explicit treatises, instead slowly and indirectly revealing his ideas over the course of dozens of dialogues written across the course of his life through the words of his character. | ||
| Line 58: | Line 63: | ||
*[http://www.relativitycalculator.com/plato_cave.shtml The Challenge of Plato's Cave] | *[http://www.relativitycalculator.com/plato_cave.shtml The Challenge of Plato's Cave] | ||
[[Category:Ancient Greek Philosophers]] | [[Category:Ancient Greek Philosophers]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Philosophers]] | ||
Revision as of 16:34, November 27, 2009
Plato was a great Greek philosopher who lived from 428 to 347 BC. His family name was Aristocles. He was a friend of Socrates and founded the Academy, whre Plato taught his philosophy, which entailed many separate disciplines.
Influence
Plato is one of the half-dozen most influential philosophers in world history, and his work is studied today in every philosophy departme nt. Plato's most famous work is The Republic. One of Plato's pupils was Aristotle, an equally impotant philosopher with a very diffeent philosophy.
Although Plato cannot be described as a theist, he influenced the Greek neo-Platonism from the second and third centuries B.C., which did have a major influence on early Christian teachings.
Style
Plato's works are different from the majority of philosophical works in style and structure. He wrote dialogs which combined elements of both Greek tragedy and philosophy. His works are conversational dramas filled with irony and 'hidden' content which only the experienced reader will recognize and understand. And he did not write explicit treatises, instead slowly and indirectly revealing his ideas over the course of dozens of dialogues written across the course of his life through the words of his character.
Plato's Cave
Plato had his character Socrates present the myth of the cave in The Republic. In this myth there are men chained in a cave, with a fire somewhere behind them casting light and shadows on the walls in front of them. They cannot turn their heads and may only gaze upon these shadows. The prisoners establish a primitive social order in which respect is granted to those who can correctly predict which shape the flames random gyrations will next be projected onto the wall. In the myth one of these prisoners is set free, and eventually finds his way out of the cave into the realm of the sun and truth. In Socrates' thought experiment of a myth this freed man is then forced to return to the cave, where he tries to tell his companions of the truth he has seen, which they can only understand as the ravings of a madman.
The Soul
Plato had his characters take the existence of the human soul on faith, following the example of Socrates, who believed in the soul because a benevolent spirit spoke directly to his. In Phaedo Socrates tells a myth where only as disembodied souls can we possess true knowledge of the Forms. The soul in a human body cannot obtain true knowledge due to the body's failings and distractions. However, by study of philosophy one can regain the path to the true knowledge of the Forms, and prepare oneself for the realm to come after death.
List of Works
Early:
Apology
Charmides
Crito
Euthyphro
First Alcibiades
Hippias Major
Hippias Minor
Ion
Laches
Lysis
Middle:
Cratylus
Euthydemus
Gorgias
Menexenus
Meno
Parmenides
Phaedo
Phaedrus
Protagoras
Republic
Symposium
Theaetetus
Late:
Timaeus
Critias
Sophist
Statesman
Philebus
Laws
