Plato as the Greatest Philosophers of All Time - Term Paper Example

Plato Plato is among the greatest philosophers of all time. The Myth of the Cave is one of the philosopher’s prolific works. In essence, the myth claims that knowledge obtained through senses is no more than opinion; real knowledge is acquired through extensive philosophical reasoning. Plato makes us think about the perception of truth. People believe what they see and hear to be true but most of the time this is not always the case. Plato asserts that the cave represents those who believe knowledge is derived from what they see and hear, that is, empirical evidence. The concept of the cave therefore means that people who believe in empirical knowledge are confined in a cave of ignorance. In Plato’s opinion, the shadows embody people’s perception that empirical evidence is the main source of knowledge. This is to mean, what we see does not represent the truth- it is only a shadow of it. The game of predicting objects showcases how people believe that those who posses empirical knowledge are smart or masters. In reality, these masters do not know any truth. The escaped prisoner stands for philosophers who breakaway from the shackles of ignorance and seek more insight about life. When the enlightened prisoner comes back to share the knowledge he has acquired, the other prisoners threaten to kill him if he tries to free them from their shackles. This theory summarizes what philosophy is all about and is a fact that should be embodied by all philosophers. Most people fear knowing the truth and most would reserve knowledge to their basic senses. However, deep and critical thinking is the only way of gaining the truth. It is worth noting that we cannot rely on what we hear and see as the main source of knowledge or truth. This is because how we see and view things differ from one person to another. For example, some view a glass to be half full while others claim that the glass is half empty. For us to properly gain knowledge, we must therefore come out of the confinement of our senses and apply thorough or philosophical thinking into issues. Socrates Socrates was an avid inquirer who questioned everything and it is due to this fact that he was sentenced to death. One of his inquisitive sessions occurred when he questioned Euthyphro about holiness. Euthyphro wants to prosecute his father for the murder of his servant. He believes that, unlike other men he is holy and should prosecute his father as he believes it is the right thing to do in the eyes of the gods and he is unperturbed by the backlash he would receive from his kin. Charged against matters related to piety, Socrates delightfully seeks knowledge from Euthyphro who is an expert in the religious field, in order to defend himself later. However, Socrates discovers that the pious man is unable to properly define piety. In fact, Euthyphro who is regarded highly as a religious man is actually not different from unreligious Socrates who is charged with the same. Another example of Socrates’ desire to question the so called ‘facts’ occurs during his confrontation with Thrasymachus concerning the nature of justice. Thrasymachus states that justice is the advantage of the stronger, meaning that justice is meant to benefit the ruling elite while subjugating the poor. Socrates however objects to this definition and asserts that even the ruling classes make mistakes and should also face the consequences of breaking the law. Thrasymachus bounces back by claiming that rulers who make mistakes are not eligible for the mistake as they are not rulers at that particular moment. He then provides the example of a craftsman who cannot be held responsible for poor work, since mistakes are ‘rooted in ignorance’. However, Socrates counters that notion with the fact that all arts are exercised with the aim of benefiting subjects rather than the artisan. For instance, the art of medicine is for the benefit of the patient rather than for the benefit of the doctor. Socrates was one of the most prolific thinkers and debaters in human history. He was therefore revered by his admirers and hated by many. Philosophy and the Real World Philosophy forms an integral part of the society both at individual and community levels. It should be pointed out that all educational disciplines like mathematics and sciences originated from philosophy. This is to mean that all these disciplines are just different forms of philosophy. Philosophy is also extensively used in the world today. For instance, in politics it can be used to analyze situations and in conflict resolutions. In the field of business, proper business ethics are formulated using philosophical reasoning and thinking. In medicine, psychologists and psychiatrists have extensive background in philosophy which enables them to study and help people. Philosophical thinking has changed the way my peers and community view me. Through constant debates, I have gained respect and a cult like following among people who view me as an ‘illuminated being’. For instance, two friends were arguing about two prominent musicians, each claiming that the one he loved was the greatest. So, I asked them to tell me which criteria they used to arrive at their respective conclusions. One stated that the artist was richer and that made him better. On the other hand, my second friend argued that the artist he supported had a rich catalogue of many hits. However, I told them that there is no definite criterion to define greatest. The way we view a notion or greatness in this particular case differs from one person to another. Friend A viewed wealthy as the source of greatness while friend B does not judge an artist on the basis of his/her bank account, but by the ability of the artist to make constant hits. In the end, they respected each other’s opinion. Philosophy has also given me the ability to question opinions that have been fed to us by experts and influential people. For instance, whites have been made to believe that they are superior to other races. However, this is not actually the case. We are all equal on average and disparities are only seen in individuals. It is assumed that the Black race is superior in sports, but this is not the case in soccer where the best teams in world stem from Europe including the world champions. When it comes to electronic gadgets, it is assumed that Asians are the best. In reality not all Asians are in the same category as the likes of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Read More