Comparing Republic And Timaeus By Plato

Through Republic and Timaeus, Plato explains that the distinction between being and becoming has to do with one’s progression from simple, uninformed thoughts to a higher understanding that rivals that of the gods. In Timaeus, he explains that there are two categories: that which always is and has no becoming, which is grasped by understanding, and that which becomes but never is, which is grasped by opinion and sensory perception (Plato 27d-28a). Additionally, in order to transition from being to becoming, something must be the impetus, “for it is impossible for anything to come to be without a cause” (Plato 28a). Plato stresses the difference between mere sense perception and actual understanding through his Theory of the Forms, which suggests that non-physical forms represent reality better than what we perceive through our senses. However, in order to ‘see’ the Forms, you must be able to reason beyond what you can perceive to a level of higher understanding. In Timaeus, Plato explains that true belief, or sensory perception, lacks accountability and can be easily swayed. On the other hand, true understanding comes from intense …show more content…
They’ve been stuck there their whole lives, only able to see in front of them (Plato 514a-b). These people have very low reasoning ability and rely on their sensory perceptions (sight) to ‘see’ the world. They are being, and based on how the puppeteers manipulate the shadows, they are easily swayed. Next, there are those who are still trapped underground, but can look up and see the objects rather than rely on shadows. They represent a slightly higher level of being, moving towards becoming. Finally, there are those who managed to crawl out of the cave and can see reality as it is. These few people have reached becoming and understanding and can see the