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Presenter
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1. To discuss a brief background about Plato.
2. To discuss Platosdistinction between bodyand soul.
3. To understand the relation of the Allegory ofthe Cave to Platos Philosophy of the humanperson.
4. To explain the importance of education in thelife of the human person.
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PLATO (c. 427-348 B.C. E.)
Plato (c.427-348 B.C.E.)is actually the nicknameof Aristocles.
Greek philosopher whowas the pupil of Socratesand the teacher ofAristotle.
Born in Athens, Greece in427 BC.
Came from a very wealthyfamily.
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He founded the first university hisAcademy (near Athens) in around 385BC.
His best known work was The Republic,which featured The Allegory of the Cave.
Died in 347 B.C.E.
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Family
Plato's father was Ariston and mother
was Perictione, whose family boasted of a
relationship with the famousAthenian lawmaker and lyric poet Solon.
Besides Plato himself, Ariston and Perictione had
three other children; twosons, Adeimantus and Glaucon, and a
daughter, Potone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariston_(Athenian)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perictionehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeimantus_of_Collytushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glauconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glauconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeimantus_of_Collytushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perictionehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariston_(Athenian)8/11/2019 PLATO'S VIEW
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Platos contributions to society were:
Knowledge is concrete and practical.
Doctrine of Platonism means theory of
general terms such as justice, peace
and knowledge.
Social justice pertains to giving credit
where credit is due.
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According to PLATO human beingsconsisted of two distinct entities, body andsoul.
The body is completely physical andmaterialistic, being of this world.
The soul which is infused at each birthinto the body is immortal, and spiritual,
and is our true self.
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Plato believed that a human was
comprised of a body, which is physical,and a soul, which is spiritual.
Dualist approach Made distinction
between the two
Soul
Body
( Ideal World )
( Phenomenal world)
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Theory of the Soul
The soul is a non-material
thing.
The soul is capable ofindependent existence and
functioning.
It survives the death &
destruction of the body. The soul is the real
person.
Theory of the ody
The body is a material
thing.
The body is capable ofindependent existence,
but not functioning
existing after death.
The body is not the realperson.
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Cont:
Theory of the Soul
Soul has ability to know the
truth and to understand the
Forms as they really are
through reason.
The soul is capable of certain
knowledge - the soul must
therefore be unchanging and it
is therefore immortal not only
existing after death but also pre
existing before birth.
Theory of the ody
Body in contrast is physical
and can learn only through
physical sense experience.
The body is in a constant
state of change and
therefore cannot be the
source of knowledge.
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In Platosview the soul has three parts namely:
( logical mind)
(relates to our physical needs) (emotional motive for our
behaviour )
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Three basic instincts which animateus into action.
Reason is the highest and superiorof the three elements. It allows usto gain knowledge, distinguish fromright and wrong and understand theforms.
Encourage us to look after thephysical needs of our body need to
be kept in check.
Allows us to love, inspires us to act outof courage needs to be kept in check
or we become reckless and conceited.
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On Plato's view a human being is properly
said to be just when the three souls
perform their proper functions in harmony
with each other, working in consonancefor the good of the person as a whole.
http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/j.htmhttp://www.philosophypages.com/dy/j.htm8/11/2019 PLATO'S VIEW
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In the Republic, Plato described
humanity as imprisoned in a cave and
mistaking shadowson the wall for reality;
he regarded the philosopher as theperson who penetrates the world outside
the cave of ignorance and achieves a
vision of the true reality, the realm of
Ideas.
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( Myth of the Cave )
is a hypothetical scenario, described by
Plato, in the form of an enlightening
conversation between Socrates and hisbrother, Glaucon. The conversation
basically deals with the ignorance of
humanity trapped in the conventional ethics
formed by society.
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Plato uses this story to illustrate howhuman nature is for us to believe and
accept reality as what we have become
accustomed to. However, as the allegory
proves, reality is not always what itseems. Plato even goes further to explain
how this one prisoner, when he finally
accepts the truth of reality, tries to tell
the other prisoners and lead them out of
the cave.
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In the allegory of the cave, Plato says that,
most mankind, this allegory would suggest,
dwells in the darkness of the cave. They
have oriented their thoughts around theblurred world of shadow. It is the function of
educ tion to lead men out of the cave into
the world of light.
Education was always extremely importantto Plato.
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Educationis the conversion that leads us
out of the dark of the cave into the light.This is a type of awakening, once we are
enlightened, we recollect, develop
knowledge, seek genuine well-being,
happiness, and virtue.
Plato believed like many other
philosophers that if our mind was not set
on the goal of real knowledge, then wewill not achieve wisdom or true
knowledge.
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Education is the process of learning andknowing, which is not restricted to ourschool text-books. It is a holistic processand continues through our life. Even theregular happenings and events around useducate us, in one or the other way. Theexistence of human beings is fruitlesswithout education. An educated person hasthe ability to change the world, as he/she isbrimming with confidence and assured ofmaking the right moves.
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Makes Better Citizens
Ensures a Productive Future
Opens New Vistas
Spreads Awareness
Helps in Decision Making
Bolsters Confidence
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References:
- Brickhouse, Thomas and Smith, Nicholas D. Plato (c.427-347 BC), TheInternet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, University of Tennessee.
- Lorenz, Hendrik (22 April 2009). "Ancient Theories of Soul". Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- McNeill, David (2010). An Image of the Soul in Speech. University Park:
Pennsylvania State University Press.
- Plato. "Book I Line 344c." Plato Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2004.
- Plato: The Republic. Plato - His Philosophy and his life,allphilosophers.com
Online References:
www. slideshare.com
www.youtube.com
http://www.iep.utm.edu/p/plato.htmhttp://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ancient-soul/http://www.allphilosophers.com/http://www.allphilosophers.com/http://www.allphilosophers.com/http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ancient-soul/http://www.iep.utm.edu/p/plato.htmhttp://www.iep.utm.edu/p/plato.htmhttp://www.iep.utm.edu/p/plato.htm8/11/2019 PLATO'S VIEW
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Activity:
Describe other "caves in modernlife in which people might be
"imprisoned" or feel "imprisoned".
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