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Plato’s Moral Theory

Plato’s Moral Theory. Examine ( elenchos ) your values, society’s values, religious values, etc. Accept the limits of human knowledge; use reason to discover the definition ( logos ) of each virtue and virtue itself; live well ( eudaimonia ). You are rich, respected, and

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Plato’s Moral Theory

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  1. Plato’s Moral Theory • Examine (elenchos) your values, society’s values, religious values, etc. • Accept the limits of human knowledge; use reason to discover the definition (logos) of each virtue and virtue itself; live well (eudaimonia). You are rich, respected, and feared, but how’s your soul?

  2. Plato’s Moral Theory • A virtue theory: virtues are character traits which promote the interests of the agent and her community. No Moderation makes Gia unhealthy and her closest community unhappy. • A self-interest theory: Wrongdoing harms the wrongdoer. Doing the right thing always promotes one’s interests. • A rationalist theory: virtue is acquired by rational reflection. All who understand the nature of justice, goodness, etc., will behave virtuously and live well. Careful thinking is the key to moral conduct.

  3. Plato’s Theory of Forms • Terms like justice, beauty, unity, etc., refer to entities existing in a transcendent realm. Knowledge occurs only when the human mind/soul makes non-perceptual contact with these ideal, eternal objects. A Form is immutable, timeless, one over many, intellectually apprehensible, and capable of precise definition via dialectical inquiry.

  4. Why Forms? • I. One over many: Universal properties shared by many particulars; many intelligent students; there is some single property that each has, intelligence. • II. Standards of measurement and appraisal: More or less equal, implies knowledge of Equality. More or less honest = closer to or further from perfect honesty.

  5. Motivating Forms • III. Definitions: Is compassion good? Requires definitions of compassion and good. • IV. Immutable things: Jill may be pale in winter and tan in summer, but pale can never become tan. • V. Timeless truths: truths about particulars are tensed, truths about universals and definitions are timeless. • VI. Intellectual knowledge: apprehension of general concepts is intellectual, not perceptual. Certainty.

  6. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

  7. The Divided Line • ObjectsStates of mind • Intelligible The Good Intelligence or Knowledge realm Forms Mathematical Thinking objects ____________________________________________realm of visible things belief/opinion appearance images imagining

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