Abstract This paper answers some important questions in connection with reason, God and religion with reference to ancient philosophers. This paper shows how these philosophers gave us some interesting views on the subject of God, which may prove helpful in understanding the nature of good in a world where evil often dominates.
From the Paper "Socrates maintained that "reason" must dominate every community and its beliefs or else the world would turn into a chaotic, poorly organized unit. He was of the view that with reason comes knowledge, which further helps the statesmen in acting virtuously. Virtue is then the most important product of reason, which is needed to save a society. Here it is important to keep in mind that Socrates wasn?t concerned with reason for its own sake but because of the notion that it could give birth to knowledge and virtue. It is also critical to know that for Socrates, reason was not connected with an ability to separate right from wrong. Instead he felt that reason was something that helped a man attain "natural order". "
Abstract This paper discusses the role that human nature plays in the actions taken by people in their lives. The paper uses the different characters in Joseph Conrad's book "The Secret Agent," to show varying levels of morality and goodness. The author also argues that individuals actions, affect the lives, and morality of those around them.
From the paper:
"Verloc is a slightly more complex character. Immediately one can see that he possesses flawed morals because of the shop he ran. For all purposes, it was a primitive sex shop. It may not have been as gaudy as the sex shops of today are, but its clientele was similar; either young men with too much time and money, or older men who had fallen on hard times. When the reader learns that Verloc runs the shop as a means to cover up his real profession as a terrorist, one no longer accepts his poor moral values, but must question whether he has any at all. Verloc's only redeeming value is that he married Winnie and helps her support her feeble brother."
Abstract The paper discusses how the basis of the common good in Plato and of God in the philosophy of Leibniz reflect similar ideals about what is good in society for the human race. The deconstruction of Roman Catholic dictates of Original Sin reflect a blessing in the work of Leibniz as Plato dictates the natural order of things in man, explaining ignorance to be a perfection of existence on Earth. The paper discusses that however, mankind has the ability to use reason and rationale in having a choice in either evolving to a higher state or devolving into chaos.
From the Paper "This philosophical study will examine the basis of the common good in "The Republic" by Plato in comparison to the notion of "god", as described by Leibniz in his "Discourse on Metaphysics." By understanding the soul in relation to the religious dictates of Christianity, one can compare Leibniz to Plato in understanding the good in relation to existence. By realizing the nature and imperfections of mankind, Leibniz exacts the same conclusions on the "common good" as Plato depicts in "The Republic." "The Republic" by Plato defines the necessary elements of the just soul in relation the society that is created through this philosophical treatise. The duality of the human nature is divided into the rational and the irrational, which both have a common place in the behaviors that mankind is free to enact."
A comparison of the definition of a good citizen in Books II-VII of "Plato's Republic" with that of Socrates' definition and identification of a good citizen.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 1 source, 2006, $ 71.95
Abstract This paper discusses the ways in which Books II-VII of "Plato's Republic" confirm and contradict Socrates' identification of the good citizen with the philosopher. The problem of this identification is that the books progressively elucidate that the guardians are over and above the city by virtue of the appropriate natures they are born with, their training as warriors-philosophers, how and where they live, and their unique customs. They are not 'of' the polis as are the citizens over whom they are to police and rule. In so far as they are the guardians, by definition they are the good citizens.
Abstract This paper explains that, in the metaphor of the cave and its dwellers, Plato states that the world as human perceive it is like a dark cave, where all human beings sit around a fire, staring into the light; they cannot see one another, the nature of reality, or the heavens with any great understanding in such a dark and cloistered environment. The author points out that any individual who dwells in "real life" can have some inkling of the use of the metaphor, separating the gesture of goodness in name or in physical action alone from the actual, meaningful gesture of either selfless love that does not demand a reward or enact a real, physical result in the world, rather than simply obey a social code. The paper concludes that Plato's metaphor is a positive and active approach for human philosophy because it suggests that a complete form of understanding is possible, despite the pain it may cause.
From the Paper "The reason that human beings do not have a full sense of a real and a complete life is because the world, as we cave dwellers see it, is not experienced fully and in the flesh of the present moment. Rather, it is only experienced in a shadowy and inconsequential fashion. Because human beings are distanced, because of a poor philosophical education, from the nature of the world's reality, the fire blinds us, or we mistake the shadows we see for truth. The heavenly philosophical apprehension of a greater truth that is more fully conceived and more intellectually substantive than the life on earthly is much better than what we actually pass our day to day existence in, which are simply copies of ?the real.?"
This paper analyzes how Aristotle and Plato separately lead to the question of nature, and how there is a complete difference in political recommendations between a master and his former pupil.
Abstract This paper draws a comparison between Aristotle's "Telos" and Plato's "Form", arguing that the "material good" is the basis of politics. It also analyzes the differences in their philosophies and shows the discontinuity between their theories.
From the Paper "Greek thought has indisputably provided a cornerstone throughout the development of western civilization. Perhaps two of the most influential contributors to this thought were Aristocles, better known as Plato, and his pupil, "the reader(1)," Aristotle. Among them existed a traditionally non-sophist view of an ultimate truth which dominated many of their philosophies. These views, however, deviated from each other in even the most primal state, becoming Plato's Form and Aristotle's Telos, and affecting them towards often discontinuous political philosophies. Whereas Form dealt with an ultimate truth beyond the sphere of the physical plane, Telos centered on a final causality, an objects "good," which manifested itself as the result of the nature of that object within the sphere of material existence. This led Plato on a search for a higher thought above traditional politics, and Aristotle on a search to provide the best possible path to achieving the final "good" within it."
Abstract This paper analyzes Plato's "Euthyphro", one of the first works devoted to the relationship between ethics and religion. In this work, Plato's search for what is ethical assumed the form of a debate between Socrates and Euthyphro, who discuss the nature of piety and what it is that all of the gods truly love. The paper reviews "Euthyphro" in order to identify the relationship between religion and ethics.
From the Paper "Plato believed that true knowledge did not consist in knowing particular things but rather in knowing something general that is common to all the particular cases and framed many of his allegories in a literary form called the dialogue, which is simply a conversation between two or more people. The characters in Plato's dialogues discuss a variety of philosophical problems and frequently argue the opposing sides of an issue. In his dialogue, "Euthyphro" Plato stages the debate immediately before the trial of Socrates with a view to elaborating and expanding on the meaning and the virtue of ?piety,? or the proper attitude that men should take toward the gods. Here, Socrates and Euthyphro first discuss the nature of piety and what it is that all of the gods are supposed to truly love based on some examples provided by Euthyphro."
Abstract This paper examines Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" from "The Republic" and argues that the allegory accurately represents the human condition morally, cognitively, spiritually, and culturally. The paper discusses Plato's argument that human beings are ignorant of universal truths as well as his idea of the just state.
From the Paper "The Allegory of the Cave accurately represents the human condition culturally, morally, cognitively and spiritually. It does so because within it Plato posits the notion that most human beings are ignorant of the truth of reality universal truths, but through proper teaching and learning individuals have the capacity to discover this truth themselves. The main goal of Plato's Republic is to illustrate a model of the just state. The realization of such a state requires good men. What constitutes the good and proper life is learning..."
Abstract This essay examines the philosophical question of what defines right behavior from both the meta-ethic and normative ethics points-of-view, with special attention paid to the ideas of Classical Greek philosophers Aristotle, Plato and Epicurus. Each has a distinct take on what constitutes right or ethical behavior that is interwoven with his concept of goodness.
Abstract Aristotle's "The Nicomachean Ethics" sets out several of his most important principles, including basic definitions of good and evil, as well as a definition of happiness, which is in fact closely allied to the concepts of virtue and good. This paper looks at these Aristotelian definitions as put forth in his treatise on ethics. The paper then compares these classical ideals of good and virtue with Thomas Hobbes's writings on these same concepts in his best-known work, "Leviathan".
From the Paper "Hobbes argues that the natural state of people is violent and inclined to devolve toward the bestial. Aristotle argues that that the natural state of humans inclines towards the good; much of the arguments that he puts forth in The Nicomachean Ethics contains at its core the Platonic assumption that evil is simply ignorance and can be educated away. Aristotle firmly believes that everyone has it within himself or herself (although probably just himself in Aristotle's case!) to become a better person through thought, observation, education, and experience (and of course the practice of philosophy). Not only does each person have this capacity, Aristotle argued, but has the moral obligation to try to improve."
Abstract This paper analyzes and examines Plato's theory of the soul and Freud's concept of the self. In Part II, Plato's theory of the soul is discussed. Part III outlines Freud's concept of the self. Lastly, this paper concludes with recommendations for integrating both Plato's and Freud's theories in order to establish a good society.
From the Paper "Plato contended that all true knowledge is recollection. According to Plato, all individuals possess innate knowledge that tells us about the things we experience in our world. Plato believed that individuals acquired this knowledge when the soul resided in the invisible realm, the realm of The Forms and The Good. Under Plato's theory of The Forms, everything in the natural world is representative of the ideal of that form. For example, a table is representative of the ideal form Table."
Tags:good, forms, id, ego, superego, immortal, god
Abstract This paper discusses Plato's beliefs concerning the world and the way in which mankind should inhabit it, as illustrated in his "Republic", specifically in books VII and X. He does this in both passages through dialogue between the philosopher Socrates and his companion Glaucon. The paper holds that their conversation's central purpose is the manner in which mankind is to achieve "Goodness" through the acquisition of knowledge, experience, and the eventual reaching of the "Intelligible Realm." The paper maintains that these passages demonstrate Plato's affection towards philosophy-based education and his opposition to poetry-based education, in other words, to anything false, representational, or in any means deceitful. The paper concludes that, here, Plato expresses a clear belief that ignorance and lack of knowledge contribute to an empty state of the soul, whereas rational thinking and intelligence fill the soul with nourishment and provide the best overall state of well-being.
From the Paper "Plato asks us next to imagine that the prisoner is dragged up the rough, steep slope of the cave tunnel and into the world above. As the prisoner arrives at the surface he is blinded by the light and must endure great pain. "At first, it would be [the shadows] he could most easily make out, then he'd move on to the reflections of people and so on in the water, and later he'd be able to see the actual things themselves (Plato 65)." It is the prisoner's acknowledgment that these things or "Forms" are the most real of things, and that those things in the cave are merely copies, that brings him to the third and cognitive stage of thought. Next, the prisoner would "feast his eyes on the heavenly bodies and the heavens themselves--he'd be able to discern and feast his eyes on the sun--not the displaced image of the sun in water or elsewhere, but the sun on its own, in its proper place (Plato 65)." Finally, the prisoner realizes the sun to be the source of truth, or the Form of the Good; he has reached the final stage of understanding, and he can now begin to understand all other forms in reality."
Abstract The writer of this well-researched paper defines human nature as the full scale of human behavior that is believed to remain constant for long periods in time and does not differ in the context of the various cultures that are seen in the world. This paper examines various theories on human nature, in which each possesses a distinctive view on the subject, including that of Plato. According to Plato, there is an intellectual soul that is resident in the brain of an individual. This paper analyzes the topic of human nature by focusing on the opinions and theories of Thomas Hobbes and David Hume. Thomas Hobbes is considered one of the individuals responsible for the transition from the medieval way of thinking to the modern thought process in Great Britain. This paper touches on Hobbes' book "Leviathan" and his views on human nature which are very clear. Hobbes' conception of human nature is a mechanistic one. Hobbes contends that the study of the movements of the physical bodies would prove to be enough in explaining all that goes on in the universe. Hume's approach to human nature differs from that of Hobbes. Hume contends that we, as humans, can only make inferences on what would happen in the future by what we have experienced in the past. The writer contends that Hume progresses from there to say that we would be incorrect to believe that this knowledge and experience of the past is enough to justify what would happen in the future.
Table of Contents:
Hobbes
Limitations in Hobbes' View of Human Nature Hume
Ethics of Reciprocity
References
From the Paper "There have been several theories that have been put forward on human nature and each of them possesses a distinctive view on human nature. The earliest views on human nature of substance come from Plato, whose thoughts on life were influenced by Socrates. In the view of Plato there is an intellectual soul that is resident in the brain of an individual and an appetitive beast that is to be found in the belly and genitals of the individual. The role of the former was in keeping the latter in check and over a period of time escape from this uncomfortable cohabitation by welcoming death. This dualist theory of Plato did have immense on the thoughts on human nature and that time and this influence can be seen in Christian theology with the Gospel of John. The extension of these beliefs of Plato on human nature had their influence on Descartes and led him to formulate the theory that man is made up of a soul that thinks and a body that is an extension of it."
This paper discusses and compares Plato's 'Republic', 'Dead Poets Society' and 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', with a focus on the messages they give out.
Abstract The following paper examines how movies can be even more instructive than more obviously "serious" forms of education because they wrap their messages in linguistic texts that are easier for us to recognize and understand. Plato's Republic, Dead Poets Society and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest each tell us something about the often precarious (and sometimes non-existent) balance between individual rights and desires and the conformity required by society to maintain organization.
From the Paper "It is braver, although in many ways more difficult, to keep trying to change society for decades ? to understand that the fight must be continued for year after year ? than to surrender. The difficulty of the fight in the long run is also the message of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. These inmates, unlike the students, are not in the first blush of youth. They understand that life is a series of the same battle fought over and over, and that those who come closest to winning on at least a personal level are those willing to lose skirmishes and then to return to fight again.
To the extent that the gods have given us the power to be wise, Plato and Socrates would have told us, we must use it to discover the nature of the natural and social worlds. But we must keep always with us ? like a mental Praetorian guard ? a constant reminder that we are limited in what we can and do know. Plato ? and Socrates too, despite his enemies? accusations of impiety ? knew that the wise person is the truly humble person, acceding omniscience, like omnipotence, to the gods alone even as he or she strains to see the world beyond the cave, and then to go forth to do whatever is humanly possible."
Abstract This book discusses the similarities and differences in Books II through VII of Plato's "Republic" regarding the best combination of civic traits desirable for citizens and philosophers in the city. For example, in his description of the most admirable traits of a warrior-guardian, Socrates declared that those who on each occasion would do what is best for the city would be the best guardians. He also declared that they would also be the best citizens because good citizens devote themselves to the good of the city as a whole.
