Plato believed that there are two worlds, the world in which we live and the world of the "Forms" or Ideas. The world we live in is a world of illusion and false beliefs. The world of the forms was one truth and perfection, it is eternal. The world of the Forms could only be reached by rational contemplation.
The Idea of an object, such as a tree, lives in the world of the Forms. The trees of this world "participate" in the perfect Form (or Idea) of a tree in an imperfect manner. Likewise for human ideas like "beauty," "justice," and "truth." The superlative Form is the Form of the Good. It can not be explained, but it can be recognized. The Form of the Good leads to the understanding of all other Forms.
Plato was a rationalist, one who sees reason as the chief source and test of knowledge. The human senses are not to be trusted. Only rational contemplation gives us true understanding of the Forms. To demonstrate this, Plato uses the Allegory of the Cave.
Plato's demiurge is an benevolent, artisan-like figure responsible for fashioning and maintaining the physical universe.
Plato's philosophy has a deeply mystical quality. It greatly influenced early Christian theologian-philosophers like Augustine of Hippo though neoplatonist intermediaries like Plotinus.
It also influenced some Renaissance humanists who believed the use of the intellect raised man up to "commune with the angels."
No comments:
Post a Comment