Abstract
This paper examines Plato's theory of knowledge, stemming from his theory of the forms. It looks at how the bulk of his theory lay in three major dialogues: "The Meno," "The Theatetus," and "The Sophist". It shows how, collectively, they represent Plato's early, middle, and later portions of his life's work, respectively, and completely encompass the broad scope of his theory.

From the Paper
"The Meno is where Plato begins to define his theory of the forms. This task is handled through a dialogue between Plato's teacher Socrates, and Meno, a Greek official. Socrates tells Meno that he has never met a man who could define virtue, and was wondering if Meno could undertake the task (it is noteworthy that Plato's choice in characters is not arbitrary. Meno was known for his tyranny, which adds irony to the work). Meno haughtily complies, and lists a variety of ways in which different types of people act virtuously. This however, is precisely the problem Socrates runs into when discussing the matter with people- they give examples of virtue, but fail to provide a holistic definition of what virtue is."

Tags:socrates, forms, greek

Abstract
This paper explains that, in both the dialogues of "Meno" and "Protagoras," the philosopher Plato argues that 'virtue' cannot be taught, is separate from human institutions and can only be fully accessed by a few. In "Meno" Plato states, rather than as the result of rhetorical practice as instilled by the Sophists, virtue is not a matter of definition, which can be established by logic, but something that must be elicited. The paper relates that ultimately the notion of virtue in "Protagoras" evolves into a less democratic tone, given its devaluation of democratic, free expression in the pursuit of virtue and truth in rhetoric, which would ultimately become the core of Plato's anti-democratic philosophy of kingship.

From the Paper
"Protagoras' force in arguing for the importance of individuals to achieve collective decisions concerning how their community is governed makes him sympathetic, since modern Americans tend to hope and accept that all people have the basic skills necessary to take part in political activities. Even when this seems to be manifestly not the case, that all human beings may possess different political beliefs and capacities, democracy tends to hopefully operate along the lines of the fiction that human beings can aspire to intelligent and virtuous citizenship, given that the alternative of even philosophical kingship seems inferior. "

Tags:sophists, elicited, anti-democratic, citizenship, abstract

Abstract
This paper analyzes the meaning of Plato's dialogues, "The Apology", "Meno", and "Euthyphro" with respect to Plato's beliefs on a variety of issues, as illustrated by Socrates. The issues discussed include piety, learning, the soul, philosophy and others.

From the Paper
"The dialectic or question and answer method of arriving at knowledge and learning is used in Plato's dialogues .Sophists philosophers who were paid for their rhetoric existed in Plato's and Socrates' time and relied upon rhetoric. Plato through Socrates vehemently rejects rhetoric as nothing more than opinionated words. In "Gorgias" Plato objects to rhetoric because he believes it offers no real knowledge but only opinions. As Socrates tells Gorgias who puts up a fierce defense of rhetoric as the highest art."

Tags:1) discourse, dialectic, ration, Meletus, Greek, learning, Gorgias, truth, knowledge, 2) sacraments, spirituality, Theolokos, God, Christ, askesis, Platyera, Chrysostom, iconography, Liturgy, Bible

Abstract
The paper compares the two philosophers' ideas about how we come to know the the truth and what we think of as the truth in our search for understanding about how the world works. The paper notes that both philosophers are rationalist and concludes that neither philosopher is more successful in their theory than the other because neither recognizes our sensory perceptions as valid forms of knowledge.

From the Paper
"Plato (428-348 BCE) and Rene Descartes (1596-1650) were both rationalist philosophers. Each believed that reason and clear thinking were the best methods through which knowledge could be found, rather than through sensory observations of the world (empiricism), which could be mutable depending on the observer, or pragmatism, which dismisses any particular foundation of knowledge in favor of practical applications that can precede successful thought and action. While both Plato and Descartes used reason to formulate a philosophy of epistemology, the two scholars..."

Tags:descartes, plato, epistemology

From the Paper
"This paper discusses the first cause argument or proof of God's existence as related by Demea in Part IX of David Hume's "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion".

The first cause argument goes back at least as far as Aristotle and some of the earlier Greek philosophers. This argument holds that one event is the consequence of another, the other by a third, and so on. However, if we ask for a cause of the whole, we are driven again to a First Cause or to the Creator, who must Himself be uncaused. There must be something which stimulates motion, and this something must itself be unmoved, with the qualities of being eternal and having substance and actuality.

Much later, Thomas Aquinas presented the first cause ... "

Abstract
This paper describes Socrates' personality as presented by Plato. It discusses how Socrates is quite certain he has lived the life he was meant to live, despite the fact that he has received the death penalty for crimes against, essentially, the state, its citizens and God. The paper looks at how Plato describes the 'crime', why these actions were considered so severe and the resulting sentencing.

From the Paper
"Socrates point is that what makes some act pious or not is innate in the act itself, not what somebody or some god or gods considers to be pious. Either some act is pious or it is not, no matter what anybody considers it to be. Socrates obviously believes that his own dialogues with the citizens are profoundly pious because they serve the truth and because they put the responsibility of basic decisions and definitions in the hands of the individual. One might argue that Socrates is wrong, that he has acted impiously, but even in such a case Socrates seems to prove his dedication to the truth as he sees it by willingly facing death if that is the price demanded by the society to which he remains loyal and true. How many men are willing to remain reasonable in the face of charges they believe unjust, and are willing to die in order to remain true to their principles. To the end, he continues to question the state's definition of reality, including piety, but he lives in Athens and he has agreed to abide by the laws of a society whose benefits and liberties he enjoys."

Tags:state, god, citizen, death, penalty

Abstract
This paper is an imaginary discussion between Descartes and Locke on knowledge and the basis for knowledge, senses.

Abstract
The purpose of this research is to examine David Hume's treatment of the design argument for the existence of God, contained in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. The plan of the research will be to set forth the essential steps of the argument made by Cleanthes, who in the Dialogues is advocating the design argument, and then to discuss various refutations of the argument made by Philo, with a view toward suggesting which line of argument seems stronger, whether within Hume's text or from the point of view of outside critique of that text.
The argument from design for the existence of God that Cleanthes makes derives from the rational human experience of the found universe.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine David Hume's treatment of the design argument for the existence of God, contained in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. The plan of the research will be to set forth the essential steps of the argument made by Cleanthes, who in the Dialogues is advocating the design argument, and then to discuss various refutations of the argument made by Philo, with a view toward suggesting which line of argument seems stronger, whether within Hume's text or from the point of view of outside critique of that text.
The argument from design for the existence of God that Cleanthes makes derives from the rational human experience of the found universe. The steps of the argument may be summarized:
1. The created/found universe demonstrates order and an "curious adapting [elsewhere adjustment] of means to ends ..."

Abstract
This paper explains that, although he did not leave any writings of his own or, at least, none of these were preserved, Socrates' philosophy and his personality are conserved in many of the works of his disciples. The author points out that Socrates' most famous appearance was as a character in Plato's dialogues. Socrates is the first thinker to change the focus of philosophy from the general theories related to the physical world to theories of the human world. The paper examines several themes of Socrates' philosophy such as knowledge, ethics, justice and justness and the virtuous life.

From the Paper
"Notably, Socrates' political theories follow the same pattern: for instance, the ideal system of government described in "The Republic" is curiously analogical with the human soul (the repository of justice and virtue) and with the soul's relation to the human body. He does not emphasize so much the relationship established between the city and the citizen, but rather that between the ruler and the inhabitants. The city is in itself, essential for the life of the individuals, but here the art of government and that of the ruler are highlighted instead of the idea of democracy."

Tags:plato, socratic method, dialogues epistemological, cognitive error