Socrates s Theory Of Knowledge - 1130 Words

In Socrates’ work, Phaedo, transcribed by Plato, Socrates is in jail after loosing his trial. He has been sentenced to death, and is now awaiting to be put to death. On the day of his death, Socrates is visited by a few of his followers who have been loyal for a long time. Fearing his death, they have a last conversation with Socrates trying to get some of the last philosophical knowledge out of him that they can get. In this conversation, Socrates tells his interlocutors a lot about life and virtue. During his final conversation, Socrates mentions that knowledge is a process of recollection, knowledge is present in the soul of the body, and that when knowledge is present, it allows us to make choices to ensure that there is right amounts of moderation in our life to lead a virtuous life. Before getting into his account of knowledge, Socrates has to first get his followers to agree with an underlying principle that must be true in order for his definition of knowledge to work. This is the fact that there are two parts of a human: the body, and the soul. While the body dies, the soul does not. The soul can live on forever. Socrates proves this theory while talking with Cebes. Cebes is not too sure about his thought that the soul is alive before the body. Socrates brings out the argument of opposites. He claims that for everything has an opposite, and there is a special process that exists that transforms it from one state to another (Phaedo 71a-d). He then carries on thisShow MoreRelatedSocrates s Theory Of Knowledge895 Words   |  4 PagesIn Phaedo, Socrates argued that knowledge is not learned, but recollected. Socrates used the example of sticks and stones, proving that our perception of the stones change. The stones may look equal from one angle, but different from another angle. This proves that we understand Equality, but Equality does not exist in the real world because it cannot be a real object. Socrates stated â€Å"we must then possess knowl edge of the Equal before that time we first saw the equal objects and realized that allRead MoreSocrates s Theory Of Recollection1216 Words   |  5 PagesI will show that Socrates answer to Meno s paradox was unsuccessful. First, I will explain what Meno s paradox is and how the question of what virtue is was raised. Second, I will explain Socrates attempt to answer the paradox with his theory of recollection and how he believes the soul is immortal. Third, I will provide an argument for why his response was unsuccessful. This will involve looking at empirical questions, rather than non-empirical questions and how Socrates theory of recollectionRead MorePlato s The Meno, A Greek Philosopher And The Wisest Of All People1216 Words   |  5 PagesPaper 11/4/14 Topic 1 In Plato’s The Meno, Socrates, who was a Greek philosopher and considered one of the wisest of all people expresses his views on the relationship between knowledge and virtue. In todays era, virtue is defined as having good morals as a human being. Knowledge is defined as factual information and skills that are acquired by a person through experience or education. Together Socrates makes a statement and or beliefs, that virtue is knowledge because if you know what is right, youRead MoreSocrates Vs. Plato : The Essential Themes Of The Meno1633 Words   |  7 Pagesessential themes of the Meno, largely because the dialogue sits nearly at the beginning of western philosophy. Socrates and Plato are working not so much in the context of previous philosophies as in the context of the lack of them. Further, this is very probably one of Plato s earliest surviving dialogues, set in about 402 BCE (by extension, we might presume that it represents Socrates at a relatively early stage i n his own thought). Nonetheless, in order to understand the aims and achievementsRead MoreIs Plato s Theory Of Recollection A Plausible Solution For Meno s Paradox Of Knowledge?960 Words   |  4 Pages1301.001 Word Count: Is Plato’s Theory of Recollection a plausible solution to Meno’s Paradox of Knowledge? The general topic is Plato’s theory of recollection. Is Plato’s Theory of Recollection the plausible solution to Meno’s Paradox of Knowledge? Throughout many of his dialogues Plato often concludes that we cannot know something through our senses. He often concludes that we became acquainted with our knowledge in a previous existence. In Meno, Socrates states that, â€Å"As the soul is immortalRead MoreSocrates And Aristotle s Life1491 Words   |  6 Pages forming a foundation upon which Western philosophers build to the present day. Socrates and Aristotle were two key individuals credited for their roles in the advent of Classical philosophy. 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He was a free thinker and lived in a free city, Athens. He was taught by multiple teachers including Socrates who was frequently mentioned in his writings as the central character. Plato’s novel, The Republic, influenced the idea of government and shows his views on the world. Throughout his personal life, writings, and dialogues, Plato shows his value of knowledge and how each of his writings impacted the morals of people in the society. Plato was born in 427 BCE in Athens whichRead MoreSocrates World Views1549 Words   |  7 PagesSocrates Paper The goal of this paper is to discern and construct the world views of Socrates through the various readings, lectures and videos that we have seen in class. Some of these sources include: Socrates by G. Rudebusch; excerpts from The Last Days of Socrates by Plato; and The Allegory of a Cave. 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