Favorite Philosophers, Research Paper Example

Philosophers Name: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Plato

Favorite Philosopher’s birth date: 428 to 423 BCE.

Favorite Philosopher’s death: 348-347 BCE

Name 3 other philosophers who lived at the same time: Socrates and Aristotle

Favorite Philosophers bio: As noted by Aristotle, Plato was heavily influenced by the Doctrines of Cratylus and the mathematical work of Pythagoras. As a young man, Plato was greatly influenced by Socrates who became his teacher and philosophical mentor (http://

www.egs.edu/library/plato/biography).

Favorite Philosophers , philosophical category: Socrates; Platonism

World Substance: “These elements occupied different places even before the universe was organised. . . Before that time. . .all these were in a state devoid of reason or measure. . . God began by first marking them out into shapes by means of forms and numbers” (http://todayinsci.com/P/Plato/Plato-Quotations.htm). Plato believed this because he was a Realist.

Eternal/Finite: “Either death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness or. . . there is a change and migration of the soul from this world to another. Now if death be of such a nature, I say that to die is to gain; for eternity is then only a single night” (http://www. philosophyparadise.com/quotes/plato.html). Plato believed this due to his rejection of the existence of the Greek gods/pantheism.

Nature Of Humans: “Man is a tame or civilized animal; nevertheless, he requires proper instruction and a fortunate nature, and then… he becomes the most divine and. . . civilized. But if he be. . . ill-educated he is the most savage of earthly creatures” (http://www.egs.edu/ library/plato/quotes). Plato believed this because of his acceptance of Natural Laws.

Nature Of God: “God is not the author of all things, but of good only” (http://www. philosophyparadise.com/quotes/plato.html). Plato is attempting to say that God is all good or that He represents the good side of the duality of man with the opposite being Evil.

Is There Change? “The philosopher is in love with truth. . . not with the changing world of sensation which is the object of opinion but with the unchanging reality which is the object of knowledge” (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Plato-Philosopher.htm). Based on his Theories of Forms, Plato believed that reality was the only source for knowledge and wisdom.

Fate: “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life” (http://www.greekstudies.pdx.edu/Quotes.htm). From Republic, Plato believed that man determines his own fate through choice and influence.

Is The Soul Immortal? “The soul of man is immortal and imperishable” (http://www. greekstudies.pdx.edu/Quotes.htm). Found in The Republic, Plato based this observation on his tripartite theory of the human soul, being human reason and logic, the human spirit, and how the human body reacts in reality.

Mind/Epistemology: “Knowledge stands to opinion as the world of reality does to that of becoming, and intelligence stands to belief and reason to illusion as knowledge stands to opinion” (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Plato-Philosopher.htm). This is based on Plato’s belief in rationalism.

Man’s Relation To Education: “We shall not be properly educated ourselves. . . until we can recognise the qualities of discipline, courage, generosity, greatness of mind, and others akin to them. . . ” (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Plato-Philosopher.htm). This is based on Plato’s belief that true education involves not only acquiring knowledge but learning how to integrate all of the disciplines related to the mind and the soul.

Existence of Absolute Truth: “And isn’t it a bad thing to be deceived about the truth, and a good thing to know what the truth is? For I assume that by knowing the truth you mean knowing things as they really are” (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Plato-Philosopher.htm). This observation is based upon Plato’s belief that absolute truth is founded on a true understanding of reality.

Good and Evil: “No evil can happen to a good man, neither in life nor after death” (http://www.philosophyparadise.com/quotes/plato.html). Here we have Plato’s belief on the links between human nature and man’s tendency to be just and unjust.

View of Government: “Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequaled alike” (http://www.philosophyparadise.com/quotes/plato.html). Certainly, Plato preferred an aristocracy to democracy or a form of government ruled by philosopher kings full of wisdom and a love for knowledge.

Short Personal Reflection

What did you Like/Dislike? What I mostly like about Plato is his views on reality which determines truth and acts as the source of all knowledge and wisdom.

What did you Agree or Disagree with? I wholly disagree with Plato’s views on the relationships between men and boys. “We see the same thing also in the boy he loves, that he is especially ashamed before his lover when he is caught in something shameful. If only there were a way to start a city or an army made up of lovers and the boys they love!” (http://www.egs.edu/library/plato/quotes).

Insight for Life: That what we perceive in the natural world as being reality may in fact not be real; it may be an illusion as Plato once referred to it.

Bibliography

Hellenic quotes. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.greekstudies.pdx.edu/Quotes.htm

Philosophy paradise. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.philosophyparadise.com/quotes/plato.html

Plato. (2012). On Truth & Reality. Retrieved from http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Plato-Philosopher.htm

Plato–Biography. (2012). The European Graduate School. Retrieved from http://www.egs.edu/library/plato/biography

Plato–Quotes. (2012). The European Graduate School. Retrieved from http://www.egs.edu/library/plato/quotes

Today in science history. (2012). Retrieved from http://todayinsci.com/P/Plato/Plato-Quotations.htm