Phil 102- ALL ODB (11) - all Online discussion post from entire course. revived 100 on all post! explains PDF

Preview

Summary

all Online discussion post from entire course. revived 100 on all post! explains concepts and well written material. ...

Description

PHILOSOPHY 102 : HERMINA REYES - SPRING 19 OBD 1 PROFESSOR: #2: The metaphorical story that Pythagoras told the king gives us some insight into what Pythagoras thinks about what philosophy is and what it means to be a philosopher.

§ The ROOM – In the metaphor, the room is described to be completely sealed with closed doors and windows. The room represents where the wisdom or knowledge (or answers to important questions) that a philosopher is looking for can be found.

·

The KNOCKING AT THE DOOR –This refers to the searching or seeking for knowledge or wisdom (or

answers to important questions) of a philosopher (i.e., the human being knocking at the door). The act of knocking implies the desire of a philosopher wishes to enter the room (where knowledge or wisdom or answers to important questions can be found).

·

The REPEATED KNOCKING AT THE DOOR – This signifies that in seeking knowledge or wisdom, we

must be passionate about it and be persistent in that we do not easily give up or quit. This implies that to be a philosopher (i.e., lover of wisdom) we must be committed to the search, even though we may not fully attain the object of our search. Nonetheless, as philosopher we must not give up; instead, we must continue to knock at the door of wisdom as sign of that absolute love and passion that as philosopher we have for wisdom.

·

The OPENING OF THE DOOR JUST A TINY BIT -- The opening of the door just shows that, while

knowledge is attainable (unlike the claim of the sceptics that knowledge is not attainable), Pythagoras is saying that we (as human beings) can only have little glimpses of wisdom or knowledge (as the door is opened only a tiny bit). It is not something that we can fully achieve no matter how hard and how repeatedly we knock at the door. When the human being (i.e., philosopher) looks in through the cracked door, s/he is able to see bits and pieces of wisdom or knowledge, but never in its entirety or totality. That we have to knock repeatedly suggest the finitude or limitation of how much we can truly know, no matter how hard we work at it.

·

The ONLY GODS AND GODDESSES ARE IN THE ROOM – In the metaphor of Pythagoras, the gods

and goddesses are the only beings inside the room and have full access of the room. The gods and goddesses themselves in this story are a metaphor for wisdom. This implies that wisdom is not inherent to us as human beings. It is something that we have to work hard at attaining (and that is why there is the repeated knocking at the door) and, even then, the most we achieve (if we do not quit and give up) is only little glimpses of it.

RE #3 -- Implicit in Pythagoras’ claim of being merely a “lover of wisdom” (a philosopher, NOT a SOPHOS) is his realization that it is one thing to be someone like a god or goddess (i.e., divine being) and it is another thing to be human. What the gods and goddesses know is not the same as what human beings can know. Wisdom is something that is proper (i.e., inherent and naturally belongs) to the gods and goddesses. Wisdom is not something that is proper or naturally belongs to us, as human beings. So for Pythagoras to call himself a ‘sophos’ would be to commit HUBRIS (i.e., arrogance -- claiming to know what one does not know, claiming to be what one is not). So, instead of calling himself a “sophos, he called himself a “philosopher,” one who is constantly searching for knowledge, much like a man repeatedly knocking on the door that leads to the room of full only of gods and goddesses. Pythagoras recognizes that whatever wisdom he may attain (if he does quit searching), his wisdom (or human wisdom for that matter) when compared to the real wisdom possessed by the gods/goddesses are (in the words of Socrates in Plato’s dialogue titled Apology) “worth very little, if not nothing.” In realizing this, he avoids committing the hubris that those people foolish enough to claim the title of ‘sophos’ end up committing.

ODB 2 -GRADE: 29/30 1.On page 33, section 30 d-e of the Apology is when Socrates refers to himself as being like a ‘gadfly’ to the people of athens. He says that he was placed in the society by god as a gift and they should not mistreat him. “I was attached to this city by the god—though it seems a ridiculous thing to say—as upon a great and noble horse which was somewhat sluggish because of its size and needed to be stirred up by a kind of gadfly. It is to fulfill some such function that I believe the god has placed me in the city. I never cease to rouse each and everyone of you, to persuade and reproach you all day long and everywhere I find myself in your company.” 2. A Gadfly is a fly that attaches and stings a lazy horse, which causes the horse to go into action in Athens. A gadfly goes around town and questions everything, and creates deeper thoughts. Socrates compares himself to a gadfly because he feels god has placed him her as a gift to get Athens to keep growing. 3. Socrates said he did not enter the political life because, of his inner voice that warned him of danger. He calls the voice a supernatural sign. He says a man like him could never last in politics.

ODB 3- GRADE: 30/30 #1: From the discussion about virtue it led to the discussion about the square because after Meno (M) has given S about 5-6 definitions of virtue (each definition ultimately found to be inadequate and thus rejected), M finally acknowledged that he (M) does not know after all what virtue is. With this acknowledgement, S invites M that the two of them should continue to investigate what virtue is. To this invitation of S, M responded by saying that it is impossible to do what S is proposing since M (following the teaching of the sophists) claims that we cannot have knowledge about anything, including about virtue. S responded to this claim of M (that knowledge is impossible to attain) that M is wrong because according to S knowledge is merely recollection. Upon hearing this claim (that knowledge is merely recollection) of S M requested S to prove this claim to him (M). In response to this request of M (that S proves to him that knowledge is merely recollection), S asked M to allow him (S) to question one of M’s slave boys. In the questioning of M’s slave boy the conversation is about the square.

#2: Basic claims in Plato’s theory of knowledge as implied in the conversation between Socrates and the slave boy of Meno about the square: 1st - that (contrary to the claims of the Sophists – Meno was educated by the Sophist Gorgias) we can have knowledge. 2nd - that we have innate ideas (the slave boy never went to school as attested to by Meno when asked by S – so no one has filled up the slave boy’s mind with ideas about the doubling of the area of the square from its original area, and yet through the questioning of S, the slave boy was able to provide the correct solution – after 2 failed attempts – to the problem he was asked to solve. That can only mean that those ideas are already in his mind from the moment he was born. 3rd – that knowledge was only recollection (to know is to remember) [the slave boy, through the questioning of S was able to recall what the ideas that were already in his mind about the square]. Basic claims in Plato’s theory of reality as implied in the conversation between Socrates and the slave boy of Meno about the square: 1st – That the soul of the slave boy pre-existed his body (that the soul of the slave was already existing even before the slave boy existed in this world) – That the soul of the slave was already existing in the other world (before it was embodied) where it learn about the form of the square in the other world that give essence to all the square things in this world. That is why the slave boy already has innate ideas about the square – ideas that were placed in his mind by some teachers of geometry, since the slave boy never went to school. 2nd- If the soul of the slave boy was already existing before he was born in this world, then there must be another world (the other world referred to in the theory of forms) where the soul of the slave boy existed before it was embodied in the body of the slave boy. Thus, there are 2 worlds for Plato: the “this” world where we have the slave boy of Men, and the other world where the soul of the slave boy of Meno used to be before it was embodied) 3rd – That the form of the Square in the other world which gives essence to all the square things in this world (including the drawing of the square on the ground used by Socrates to question the slave boy about the square) is the really real square. All the square things in this world are only copies (or shadows – if you refer to the metaphor of the cave) of the Form of the Square in the other world. #3- The truth about the doubling of the area of a square using the diagonal line is not a truth about the square things we find in this world. The square things we find in this world, for Plato, are only copies of the really real square (the Form of Square) in the other world. For Plato, it is a truth about the form of Square in the other world. ODB 4 - GRADE: 30/30 1 a. Plato's allegory of the cave is his theory on human perception, and effects of education on .the soul. In his metaphor he describes human beings living underground their whole life, with their necks in one place. All they can see is shadows caused by a opening of real light from fire. However, all they see is the outlines, they have never seen true forms of reality only everything in shadows. Between them and the fire is a walkway to long wall that

shows animations of shadows created from the light of the fire behind them from the outside world. People are carrying many types of things, some talking and some silent. The play a game to guess which shadow will appear next. In this sense, where this is all they have seen, the prisoners would only have reason to believe that the truth is nothing other than shadows of what they have seen. When the prisoner is unchained and escapes to the real world be is shocked and can not believe what he sees is real. Once he becomes accustomed to more detail he realizes his whole old form of reality was wrong. As he goes along and starts to find all the beauty in the world, he finally realizes the game they used to play wasn't useful. 1b. From this metaphor, what can you infer or deduce (at least 3) as Plato’s view of reality?Plato views society as people who sit in the cave and only look at shadows. He claims that we don't see the reality in this world, and that society is ignorant to the truth. As he uses the cave to symbolize the physical world, showing that it is not always what it seems to be. As the outside world represents the world of ideas, thoughts, truth, and reality. When plato speaks about world of ideas he is interpreting the nonphysical ideals that represent as higher levels of reality.

1c. From this metaphor, we can infer Plato believes we need to be critical thinkers. It may be hard for everyone to see or accept the truth. The meaning of climbing out of the cave shows, crossing of the line between ignorant and finding wisdom and the truth in the world, can be alot. Plato understands it is easier to be ignorant, and the truth can be painful. He believes that for one to see the truth they must look at the world a different way, with light or different perspective. Showing that his view of knowledge shows the truth is out there, you can’t be afraid to question it. Creating that he believes a relation between education and the truth. Inferring, that education gets us closer to the truth, but educacion is not the truth.

1d. The prisoners who are chained represent people the ignorant people. Those who are scared to seek knowledge, who don't want to face reality to gain truth and wisdom. They are okay with seeing shadows, that is what they are used to. They don't want to seek enlightenment. They don't want to be set free because they are comfortable with their own ignorance. The prisoner who was unchained represents the philosopher who seeks knowledge outside of the cave and the outside senses. He sees reality and gains knowledge for the first time. At first it is so tough and difficult for him to accept all this new way of seeing things, but then he feels so much intellectually stronger and wants to share it with the other prisoners. They don't want to believe him and threaten to kill him, it's just like socrates when he is accused of his wisdom.

The stranger represent a teacher who wants to educate people of the truth, or a coach who helps someone reach their full potential. They encourage the person to ush themself and gain a hold of reality, by asking the questions they need to ask. The people walking back and forth on the passageway as they are carrying replicas represents types of authority such as teachers, parents, president, religious leaders, law enforcement. Anyone who influences society's opinions and represent the beliefs and attitudes of today. 2. “Sight may be present in the eyes, and the one who has it may try to use it, and colors may be present in things, but unless a third kind of thing is present which is naturally adapted for this very purpose, you know that sight will see nothing and the colors will remain unseen.” 507-d-e

He claims that sight and visible realm are deficient. He says there's a third aspect of senses, which he calls light that is needed to see. Without it you will not see the whole picture, just as you need to taste senses. You

need light to see the color. With out color it will be dark and you can not tell the goodness in it. In other words, he is saying the true nature of reality cannot be seen by ordinary senses. Just how a mind can't function without goodness. Light is the goodness, Which the natural light of this world is the sun, and the gods in heaven control it.

“What the good itself is in the intelligible realm, in relation to understanding and intelligible things, the sun is the visible realm, in relation to sight and visible things.”508-c

Plato relates the sun to goodness of the soul, that when we look at something it doesn't always show its true colors. The sun is a metaphor for the nature of reality and knowledge concerning it. He uses the light and sun as the source of goodness in this world. Plato says when something is illuminated by the sun, it is the same way that the soul get illuminated by the truth gets very clear.

PROFESSOR: #1a: FOR THE DETAILS OF THE CAVE METAPHOR, PLEASE REFER TO BOOK 7 OF THE REPUBLIC

#1b: Plato’s view of reality as implied in the cave metaphor: 1st– that there are 2 worlds (the inside of the caverepresents the “this” world or the visible world referred to in the divided line analogy; and the outside of the caverepresents the other world or the intelligible world referred to in the divided line analogy. 2nd– that the really real world for Plato is the other world – the outside of the cave and the things outside the cave are far more real that the inside of the cave and the things – shadows on the wall of the cave, and the replicas carried above the head by the people walking back and for on the elevated passageway. 3rd– That the things outside the cave illumined by the bright light of the sun are far more real than the things inside the cave – shadows on the wall of the cave, the fire, and the replicas carried above their heads by the people walking back and forth in the elevated passageway. #1c: Plato’s view of Knowledge as implied in the cave metaphor: 1st– That real knowledge is attainable – the prisoner who was unchained was able to reach the outside of the cave where he found out about the sun and the things illumined by the sun which are far more real than the things inside the cave. The outside of the cave is the realm of knowledge whereas the inside of the cave is the realm of opinion. 2nd– That it takes hard work and persistence to attain real knowledge – the prisoner who was unchained had to struggle to reach the outside of the cave. 3rd– That to have real knowledge one must know the forms in the other world that give essence to the things of this world – the things outside the cave illumined by the sun represent the form in the other world whereas the things inside the cave – the shadows on the wall and the replicas – represent the things in this world. The things in this world are only copies of the forms in the other world. To have real knowledge for Plato, you have to know the forms that give essence to the things in this world.

#1d. In the metaphor of the cave, Plato has in mind the following:

• The prisoners who are in chain– P has in mind all of us who [upon being born in this world] think that this world is the only world, the real world and that everything we experience here is what is real. For P, we are like the prisoners of the cave ignorant of what is really real and even unaware of our ignorance. The prisoners who are chained are meant to represent humanity as a whole, with our limited view of reality, and our inability and unwillingness to see anything other than shadows. • The prisoners who was unchained– P has in mind here the philosopher or the person/student who is willing to work hard (get out of the cave) to find out what is really real even though others may find that ‘weird’ or ‘whatever.’ The prisoner who was unchained, and subsequently desires to understand the real world, represents a philosopher in their pursuit for wisdom beyond anything that can be explained through the senses alone. • The stranger– P has in mind here the teacher/educator (Socrates’ teaching style) who ‘turns around’ the student (prisoner who was unchained) so the student will be able to discover for him/herself what is really real, and not ‘fill the mind of student with ideas’ (like ‘put sight into blind eyes’ (like what the sophists are doing). The stranger (one who dragged the unchained prisoner out of the cave) would be the individual who has already been, giving to his/her society by helping others (who are willing) to become enlighten.

• The people walking back and forth in the elevated walkway – P has in mind here the sophist. The ‘replicas they carry high up their heads’ are like the ideas the sophists put into the minds of their students. #2 – For P, the 1stwayin which the FOTG in the other world is like the Sun in this world is as follows: The Sun the this world is what gives light the illumines the things in this world, thus making the things in this world visibleto our eyes; just as the FOTG in the other world is what gives truth to the forms in the other world, thus making the forms in the other world knowable to our mind or soul. For P, the 2nd wayin which the FOTG in the other world is like the Sun in this world is as follows: The sun offers warmth and nourishment to the things of this world. That is what sustains them in their existence. “[T]he objects of knowledge (i.e., forms in the other world) owe their being known to the good” (i.e., their intelligibility and essence) (509b, Book VI) to the FOTG. Thus, without the warmth of the sun, things in this world cannot grow and flourish (i.e., cannot be sustained in their existence) just as the forms in the other world cannot have their intelligibility and essence without the Form of the Good.

ODB 5- GRADE : 30/30 1.Based on the Theory of Hylomorphism of Aristotle explain fully and clearly the difference between: a.

Based on the theory of hylomorphism of Aristotle the difference between prime matter and substantial form is as following. Prime matter is based off indermenite and determinable principles. Indeterminate principle meaning prime matter alone is nothing, but has the potential to be something. It is actually nothing as is because it is too basic to be named without characteristics. Determinable principle refers to the characteristics it receives when it forms into its potential. Substantial form is the form added to prime matter that determines the characteristics of what it will become. To become something itself with its own