Philosophical Approach: Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Rousseau, Locke and Hobbes - Coursework Example

Dayo Abbas Ali Dayo Number 17 May Philosophy Philosophy deals with problems of different spheres. It is mostly aboutfundamental and general problems of life. For instance, problems relating to life, existence, values and knowledge etc are by and large studied with the help of disciplines. Philosophy deeply influences human life and ways of thinking and reacting. Like scientists deal with the phenomena of science and sociologists with social perspective, philosophers are mainly concerned with matters relating mind, reason and language etc. Great philosophers such as: Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Rousseau, Locke and Hobbes etc have contributed to having an insight into philosophical approach. HOBBES’ VIEWS ON SENSES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON HIS THEORY Hobbes, in this connection has propounded his views on our senses which, in actuality, influence over all theory. He is of the view that all of our ideas have their origin in sensations and all sensations are referred to as birthplace of thoughts. According to (Curley 6) human thoughts are consequences of our physical senses. Thus the assertion can be deduced that these senses are determining factor for men to be different from other animals because they provide men with understanding and reasoning as well as power of memory and imagination. As a result, his theory is chiefly guided by his views on senses. To begin with, his views on sense of speech are rather influential on his over all theory. To him speech is essential to remembrance, conception, signification or self-expression. Dayo 2 Thus, all stages of Hobbes’ theory are nothing but imaginations until transformed by speech. Further, impacts of Hobbes’ analytical deduction are rather modern in sense as well as proposition. He explicitly asserts the peculiarity of objects and their appearance to man’s senses and deduces that knowledge- one of the problem philosophy deals with- is dialogue about exterior. It is with this view that his views on sense of sight profoundly influences his over all theory that relates knowledge to discourse about appearances and not objects. He himself exemplified this fact by asserting that colors are not related with objects but with appearances. For we sense them so, they are likewise. Commenting on faculty of reason, he asserts that it is simply calculation or computation of general perception to develop into agreed upon laws. Real power of mind lies in its capacity of forming general laws and principles by either deducing consequences out of general perceptions or or summarizing general perception to make a law of established fact out of it. Whatever the case may be, sense of reasoning is directly coming down to us from mind helping us form theories and agreed upon laws. Moreover, his perception regarding senses can best be elaborated as objects causing pressure on sense which stir up motions inside. These motions, nonetheless, encourage man to react and take necessary actions. They may provoke to refuse to give in to or argue against or make an effort. Thus, according to (McNeilly 53) sensation is strongly identical to these inside motions. At a latter stage these senses become weaker as imagination takes over. It is chiefly due to the fact that we loose objects and their appearance so, our senses still feel perceive them to a lesser extent, but in imaginations they remain. Finally, Hobbes’s views Dayo 3 on senses influence his theory. For him, by and large, his theory was based on these views and had origin in these views. RELATION OF THEORY OF RECOLLECTION TO TWO OTHER DIALOGUES Theory of recollection does relate with two major dialogues of Plato. His search for models of goodness ahead of the limits of knowledge makes clear the growth of his speculation of reminiscence and the hypothesis of inspirational immaterial objects as the basis of authenticity and thought that he presents in the Meno and the Phaedo. Theory of recollection is a theory of learning in actuality. It suggests ideological basis for learning knowledge. This theory of recollection has explicit relation with two other major dialogues of Plato such as Meno and Phaedo. In Meno, Plato assuming character of old teacher implies that until one is not well conversant with any of the properties and credentials of a particular thing, knowledge of the same seems stay alien to one no matter this particular thing is physical or otherwise. At least nodding acquaintance with it is a must to even identify it even if sporadically it comes across. Conversely, slightest familiarity of anything tends to lead to complete knowledge of the same. Thus, theory of recollection which actually is intended to learning knowledge by origin and reasons and logic, relates to Meno because in it has elaborated the fact that familiarity with any of the credentials is a must to recollect knowledge To achieve purpose, a salve boy was asked questions time and again and he repeatedly answered wrong, but finally came up with correct answer by recollecting past wrong answers. This seems to inculcate in him learning by recollecting what has aware of, but had forgotten. On the other hand according to (Curley 8), Hobbes considers it a putrefied comprehension because when new senses take over old ones vanish. Dayo 4 At the second place, Plato’s another dialogue Phaedo also relates with theory of recollection in some different manner. He pointed out that man and senses are bound to make mistakes and knowledge can only be achieved through rational approach and reasoning faculties. Plato is quoted as explaining that only eternal knowledge can be achieved through soul and mere true belief is not identical to this genuine knowledge for they are different in substance. A mere acquaintance with belief in this world is no knowledge, but the eternal existence of life and its knowledge is the real one. Thus, theory of recollection has some sharp similarities with two dialogues of Plato so far as acquisition of knowledge is concerned. JUSTIFIED PHILOSOPHY It is argued on various grounds that philosophy of Plato is more logical and rational to be justified. His theoretical approach, unlikely of Hobbes, sounds logical and close to mental faculties of man. His comments and argues on different philosophies makes him stand a reverent philosopher of all times. Further, he not only produced theories but also created dialogues to give a practical shape to learning. Plato’s philosophy stands distinct from that of Hobbes in many ways. For instance, Hobbes argues that man’s body driven by desires and pleasures is ever changing because of changing in desires. On the other hand Plato’s philosophy stands for immortality of soul. Plato asserts that “soul is immortal” (Rouse 38). He asserts that soul is eternal and such unending things never change because of their original nature and composition. Plato’s thought is about soul which has an unending structure. Thus, changes in everlasting structures tend not to change for good. Dayo 5 Further, Plato’s thought again contradicts Hobbes one on the grounds of ethics. According to (Curley 28-29) Hobbes suggests that good and evil does not exist, but it is man who pursues his good or evil objects. Objects lead man to attain right or wrong path thus plunging man into either valley of goodness or well of evil. Conversely, Plato’s vision is rather different in this sense. He contends that a life with no assessment should cease to exist. It should have its desired goals of goodness and man should endeavor to attain high level of morality by pursuing best goals in life. Again on self and society Plato’s views disagree with that of Hobbes. He refutes Hobbes’ thought that man has plunged into enmity because of feelings of competition, lack of confidence and fact of being infamous and asserts that man is by nature good. Now this good nature which is an intrinsic commodity, leads to achieve goodness and evade rivalry and brutish demeanor. Moreover, Plato’s thought on memory also say opposite to Hobbes’. Hobbes considering memory a corroded sense explains that old sensory regions, with the passage of time, perish and new faculties come into existence. Contradicting this statement, Plato gives his vision that recollection is the best to learning forgotten knowledge and it is memory which plays an important role in recollection of knowledge buried long ago. Recollection is a process which helps regain knowledge by the faculties of memory. Thus, Plato’s thoughts are more powerful to be justified. HOBBES’ THOUGHTS ON COMMONWEALTH Hobbes is rightly called as father of modern political philosophy because of his setting up terms for people to live together for peace and security for good. And problems of political order will plunge society in crises and result in its accepting an authoritarian Dayo 6 with no accountability. He asserted human authority as supreme and mandatory for peaceful coexistence of human beings. He pleaded for a world where there is no room for social and political inequality and where religion is tolerated. Hobbes argues that it very difficult for human beings to live together peacefully in the absence of a sovereign which he calls Government. In this pretext, he considered government an essential for the survival of the human beings on this planet. Until man succeeded in arranging a government, he would constantly face political and social turmoil. He put forward some reasons for establishment of such government. To begin with, he reasoned that man would compete and try to achieve material gains and bare essentials for survival. In this competition man is bound to suffer heavy losses thus, generating necessity of a common government. Secondly, he argued that personal safety is of prime importance. To secure safety, man would sink in river of quarrels for the fear of being attacked and routed out. Finally, he explained importance of glory and fame as being unchallengeable. Glory and fame, to him, were of overriding consideration because, it would make man less vulnerable to challenges and protests. To put it simply, a commonwealth, according to Hobbes, was very much important through which man might live peacefully and with security. Government would be responsible to resolve mutual quarrels among human beings provision of bare essentials of life. Fame and glory would, thus, be achieved and people would live happily under one sovereign with peaceful coexistence allowing commonwealth to prosper and progress with an astounding rapidity. This sort of government is a must to replace government of the nature which stands for social and political turmoil and inequality. Dayo 7 Works cited Curley, E., M. Leviathan: With Selected Variants from the Latin Edition of 1668. Print Curley, E., M. Leviathan: With Selected Variants from the Latin Edition of 1668. Print Rouse, W, H, D. Great Dialogues of Plato: Complete Texts of the Republic - the Apololy - Crito - Phaedo - Ion - Meno – Symposium. Print Curley, E., M. Leviathan: With Selected Variants from the Latin Edition of 1668. Print Read More