In this essay, I will be examining the position of Socrates as discussed in the works of Plato. The main concept discussed in Plato’s works is the contrast between the world of the forms and the world of appearances. Socrates describes forms and appearances as “two kinds of existences” (Plato, Phaedo, 79a). He continues to say that the form is “by itself, it is always one” (Plato, Symposium, 211b). If the form is always one, then appearances are many. The form is invisible, appearances are visible. The form is the essence all common things must share in and is a constant and unchanging reality. Appearances are particular things as they seem to be, which is subject to opinion and change. The two existences are completely separate, yet there
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Socrates describes the body as a contaminant, a chain, that the soul must be freed from in order to acquire knowledge. However, he makes the argument that the soul is superior to the body because the soul houses the knowledge of the forms (Phaedo, 73c). The way in which Socrates speaks of the soul and the body is antithesis. How can the soul, which is superior, be held captive by the body, which is inferior? In contradicting himself as such, Socrates further indicates that he does not speak from the standpoint of having …show more content…
According to Socrates, you always desire that which you will not want when you get it, and so the highest form of desire is that which you will never get. That which no man will ever possess is described in Phaedo as knowledge of the forms (65c) because the body’s sense perception gets in the way of the soul being able to attain knowledge. Socrates describes happiness as the final end for desire. When what is desired is finally possessed, then there is no more desire. However, happiness to Socrates is not the same as what the common man would describe as happiness. In Phaedo, Socrates makes the distinction that the philosopher strives for the separation of the soul from the body (65a) and that that is happiness because only when the soul is separated from the body can the soul acquire true
Socrates describes the body as a contaminant, a chain, that the soul must be freed from in order to acquire knowledge. However, he makes the argument that the soul is superior to the body because the soul houses the knowledge of the forms (Phaedo, 73c). The way in which Socrates speaks of the soul and the body is antithesis. How can the soul, which is superior, be held captive by the body, which is inferior? In contradicting himself as such, Socrates further indicates that he does not speak from the standpoint of having …show more content…
According to Socrates, you always desire that which you will not want when you get it, and so the highest form of desire is that which you will never get. That which no man will ever possess is described in Phaedo as knowledge of the forms (65c) because the body’s sense perception gets in the way of the soul being able to attain knowledge. Socrates describes happiness as the final end for desire. When what is desired is finally possessed, then there is no more desire. However, happiness to Socrates is not the same as what the common man would describe as happiness. In Phaedo, Socrates makes the distinction that the philosopher strives for the separation of the soul from the body (65a) and that that is happiness because only when the soul is separated from the body can the soul acquire true