Comparative Analysis of Russell's Theory of Knowledge and Plato's Doctrine of Anamnesis - Case Study Example

Comparative analysis of Russells theory of knowledge and Platos doctrine of anamnesis Comparative analysis ofRussells theory of knowledge and Platos doctrine of anamnesis In philosophy anamnesis is the idea that human beings have knowledge from past incarnations and that learning consists of rediscovering the knowledge within us. The theory of knowledge is the result of human doubt (Marxists.org, 2014). Both philosophical terms involve knowledge and having knowledge as human beings. In the pursuit of comparing the theory of knowledge by Bertrand Russell and anamnesis doctrine by Pluto it is important to understand the concept knowledge, how to acquire it and how it affects our daily to daily living. The doctrine of anamnesis is a concept in Plates theory that involves both epistemological and psychological theories that are developed in both his Meno and Phaedo dialogues. Russell on the other hand discusses the theory of knowledge in diverse measures of trying to unmask knowledge to its fine tiny particles. The platonic theory of anamnesis is mainly subjective to Orphism and Pythagoreanism and a belief in transmigration of souls (Koehler, 1972). It is also eminent of the thought pre existence of humanity with the sense of a soul. According to the theory of anamnesis, human discovers knowledge acquired during previous incarnations of the soul. This doctrine stipulates that, the soul knows truths about universal values and ideas. These values and ideas are known to be of non-materialistic sense. The soul already possesses knowledge hence its only duty is to recall ideas and occasions. Russell’s theory defines knowledge in that for an individual to discuss knowledge, one must be able to know the definition of a belief and the definition of a fact. There should be a known fact that connects with a certain belief that makes an agreement. As compared to the plutonic theory, Russells theory is determined to identify the major elements of knowledge and how they relate to the human soul. Russell defined a belief as the state of mind of a particular perception. A belief is set in accordance to the common sense. The human soul has the ability to feel and dictate the way a human being behaves. Consequently, a belief can be perceived as a percetin o common sense being manifested as behavior without any proof of mental occurrence. The interpretation of human knowledge according to this doctrine utilizes the theory of prior knowledge but it gives a different description as opposed to Kantianism or the neo-Kantianism theories. In contrast to this theory, Russell explains that knowledge is as a result of the distinction that truth and error exists. Theory of knowledge distinguishes the truth and what is perceived as errors by man. Belief is merely implicit behavior and even when a human being has no state of cognitive sense of introspection. Pluto a classic Greek philosopher writes his anamnesis theory in terms of a dialogue. The theory is written in Socratic dialogues and letters. Remarkably, Pluto had a definite intention of writing the thirty-five dialogues as well as letters to readers to bring out the content defining knowledge l. On the other hand, Russell wrote the theory of knowledge in a definitive way (Gulley (1962). He defines all elements of knowledge and gives them life by giving vivid examples of how they apply to practical life situations. In contrast to Pluto, Russell is more practical in his writings. He divides the discussion of knowledge into stages like definition data and methods of inference. In the theory of anamnesis, Plato suggests that the soul is immortal and incarnated numerous times. According to Plato, knowledge is in the soul from eternity. He argues that, every time the soul is incarnated its previous knowledge is forgotten during birth. This theory explains that what humans perceive as learning is actually recovery of what has been forgotten. The forgotten information is brought back to its true belief. Genuine information is brought to the mind by understanding. The stored information is retrieved back to a humans mind and further integrated to a normal life. The information gathered in incarnation is useful in growing general knowledge hence the theory describes learning as rediscovering. The theory of knowledge by Russell utilizes words to bring about the harmony of human behavior. Verbal behavior leads us to the characteristic of belief. Belief is closely related to knowledge. Verbal habits are infallible evidences of belief. According to the theory knowledge is learned through exposure. As compared to the theory of anamnesis, the theory of knowledge requires one to learn overtime. Learning is a continuous process since birth for all human beings. Knowledge is acquired over a long period of time hence the need to have a belief. Speaking crystallizes our beliefs and conveniently makes our beliefs explicit. Throughout the history of philosophy words are the most convenient ways of delivering knowledge from one source to the other. Words make a belief broader hence belief is defined as a characteristic of behavior. As compared to Plato, Russell says that characteristics of behavior can be described as belief which is vital in knowledge description. In the theory by Plato, Meno wants to know what Socrates stands for. He wants to understand if virtue can be taught or whether it comes from practice or whether it is acquired by birth (Gulley (1962). Socrates through the sophistic paradox presents the debaters argument asks on how he can search for virtue and how he can know what it is when he meets with it. To counter this argument Socrates replies that the soul is immortal and does not need to learn anything since it can recollect anything it knows from before even virtue. In contrast, Russell advocates that everything is collected and learned. Russell argues that human beings have the ability to learn and distinguish between truth and logic and uncertainty and vagueness. Russell’s is of the idea that knowledge is acquired whereas Plato thinks because the soul reincarnates knowledge is recycled from previous life (Gulley (1962). True knowledge is innate and recollection of the forgotten knowledge is found in Socrates testimony.. In comparison, according to Russell through the law of syntax in language we can construct propositions. If we find that these propositions have meanings and are true, we can infer that others related to them are then true. This leads us to the existence of true knowledge. True knowledge is taught and manifested in verbal ways. In defining knowledge, two aspects are put into consideration in Russell’s theory. He considers the certainty and the degree of precision of the definition (Koehler, 1972). According to Russell, knowledge is neither less of a vague nor uncertain, but rather the fact that are in accordance to the definer. Knowledge that is vague has a high possibility of truth but is less useful. Science defines terms with an aim of improving precision as well as upholding certainty. Philosophy on the other hand defines terms in terms of how they affect human behavior and relationships. Where the definition can be done specifically, it them turns out to be probable error and probability. Conversely, Plato through Socrates describes knowledge as recollection of coming up with new conclusions from facts as well as data presented to the human, being as if it is the first time. Plato’s beginning of the knowledge that can be regarded as true knowledge is based on its natural nature whereas that described by Russell is more of a learnt process. Pluto describes knowledge learning as a process where human beings learn from within one self and not from other people. The existence of mankind and their experiences that are shaped by experiments undertaken are mostly described as catalysts to recollect ideas from the past. Russell on the other hand describes knowledge as a belief on what the person lives during day to day experiences. Experiences help human beings to learn from one step to the other. This enables human beings to improve in the knowledge department with time. Knowledge cannot be measured by how much one uses verbal behavior. Notably, behavior psychologists indicate that use of words and their effectiveness in resulting to conditional responses, which is thinking, can be used as a subject to measure the degree of knowledge. Plato’s concept of true knowledge is regarded one of most widely recognized theories concerning the knowledge in Western philosophy. Plato’s evidence behind the theory of knowledge relied on intuition and need to question others to establish this evidence. Phaedo is another Socratic dialogue that discusses the theory of recollection and The Forms. The knowledge of The Equal is an important example that further adds substance to the argument that the theory of recollection is necessary in the conception of true knowledge. As retold by Phaedo after Socrates death, Simmias and Socrates discuss equal things and the concept of The Equal. further substantiating the claim that true knowledge is innate. Socrates then says, it seems then that we must have possessed it before birth. Simmias continues to agree with Socrates, whereupon Socrates says that their present conversation was not just about the Equal, but the Beautiful References Gulley, N. (1962). Platos Meno: A Dramatic Commentary Jacob Klein: A Commentary on Platos Meno. Pp. 256. Chapel Hill: North Carolina University Press (London: Oxford University Press), 1967. Cloth, 48s. net. The Classical Review (New Series), 19(02), 162--163. Koehler, C. (1972). Bertrand Russells Theory of Knowledge by Elizabeth Ramsden Eames. Dialectica, 26(2), 139--145. Marxists.org,. (2014). Theory of Knowledge by Bertrand Russell. Marxists.org. Retrieved 13 August 2014, from http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/en/russell1.htm Read More