Plato Essay Examples to Help You Find Inspiration

It is hard to imagine that in our modern society, which is so materialistic, down-to-earth and at times does not trust even proved facts, a lot of philosophical ideas procreated in ancient times still remain very important and influential. Most of them are based on the substances that cannot be touched, heard or even seen, nevertheless, more and more people are involved in solving philosophical issues.
Metaphysics is one of the most disputable branches of philosophy that bothers people all over the world, apart from their social status, gender or age. As the matter of fact, many of those Continue reading...

In this paperwork I am going to handle this question about the status of women in history. What roles were women expected or not expected to perform by the community? Has gender equality been into existence in the early days? The reactions of women as far as their status are considered. These are some of the questions that I will be handling in this paperwork.
Through the research, we find the Greek society practicing laws and customs that constrained the political rights and social access of females to such an extent that Greek women were abridged to simple trustees Continue reading...

Not many thinkers in the history of the western civilization have been more cited than Plato. For the most part of the middle ages, the majority of lines of thought were developed around his philosophical arguments. Either to defend him or to contradict him, the new ideas could not get rid of his influence. Christianity was almost uniquely influenced by the works of Plato until at least the thirteenth century .
One of the most important parts of Plato´s works is his theory of Ideas. This was an attempt to make a distinction between two things that were his Continue reading...

In order to get a clear picture of how Plato would respond to this dilemma, it is important to establish the facts about this case. A woman named Lisa Krawchuk qualified for welfare assistance because of her low income. The welfare authorities required her to report any changes in her income for the period that she received the benefits. She agreed to that condition, reported an increase in her income after her husband got a part-time job and the welfare office reduced her payments accordingly. Lisa failed to report that she was benefiting from a student loan and the Continue reading...

The Allegory of the Cave describes the shadows on the cave wall, which was taught to the prisoners as he reality since birth. It also depicts humans as prisoners of their own body.
Plato wants to tell us that the prisoners who were inside the cave believed that what they see on the cave wall is the reality that in fact, it was just the reflection coming from the fire and objects behind them. When one of the prisoners was released and witnessed what the reality looks outside the cave, he realized that shadows were just illusions.
Plato plays Continue reading...

Philosophy

Plato has provided several arguments on immortality. He has described the immortality of soul. Most of his arguments are, however present in Phaeodo-Socratic dialogue, The Meno and The Republic. Regarding immortality of souls, there are four arguments in Phaedo. The arguments are known as the Cyclical Argument, the Recollection Argument, the Affinity Argument and the Final Argument. According to the Cyclical Argument, all the things arise from their opposite, as the opposite of life is death so life has must come from the death. Moreover, Plato has explained that this should be the case and anything else would finish Continue reading...

Opposing view: Aristotle versus Plato in Ancient Greece

Aristotle has made more lasting contribution to philosophy as compared to Plato. This statement can be justified on the basis of facts that Plato has envisioned the concept of just society as consisting of three classes, which are the producers i.e., craftsmen and farmers, the military i.e., warriors, and the rulers i.e., philosophers and kings. According to him, each class maintains justice and every class performs its proposed function (Santas, 2010). Such as the the it is compulsory for the king to rule, the producer should produce obediently and perform all the skills he possessed and the military should Continue reading...

The Meno, one of Plato’s dialogue, is one of the most studied Meno describes the excellence of humans as he answers Socrates with a list of virtues of a man. Socrates is looking an answer of the definition, but Meno is giving examples of virtue. Many Greek philosophers gave theories about the virtues of human beings; what comprises human excellence, in terms of virtues, of people. They believed that these theories were related to the final objective of human beings on this earth, as well as their intention and what incorporates the great life that everybody wants to Continue reading...

A critical re-examination of Plato's Phaedo argument reveals that learning involves a recollection of prenatal knowledge. Plato`s thoughts on the knowledge that rests upon recollection is brought out through Socrates, his speaker. Socrates gives too much attention to the case of equal stones and sticks which are in most of the occasions viewed as existing without complete success that resembles a Form. Plato takes two different approaches in handling the theory of knowledge. In both the Phaedo and Meno, he presents this theory of knowledge as a recollection (Sedley, 1992, p 312). Plato presents his theory as a Continue reading...

Plato devotes an entire text to analyze love through Socrates speech. Plato was Socrates student. He was initially a political student before turning philosophical after his master and teacher was tried and sentenced to death after being accused of corrupting the minds of young Athenians. Plato believed that the true aspects of love could lead to proper governance and that the people would live with honor and pursues excellence rather than wealth. Since love revolves all aspects of life including governance, and life being a philosophy in its own sense, it is only wise that he treats love as Continue reading...

Part I Question 2: Plato’s theory of forms

Forms, as displayed by Plato’s perspectives, are an imagination of a real object. As a matter of fact, what we perceive by sight are not the actual objects. His theories revolve around the belief that the reality in objects is floating. While the forms may be invisible to the human eye, our souls have engaged in the eternal world prior to being assimilated in a physical human body, and retain a memory of them (Field). From Plato’s perspective, forms are the imaginative part of the objects that are created in our minds. In reality, they are things Continue reading...

Philosophy

Plato's greatest and most enduring work remains ‘The Republic.’ Plato called this work as paideia; where the physical, spiritual and mental development of an individual was of utmost importance in constructive, societal development. Plato was a man filled with faith in human nature. Plato’s philosophy of human nature doing evil was that a person only does evil in ignorance, for he believed everyone, just as himself wanted only what was good. The source of someone doing evil is brought about by unlimited desire. In Book 3, part 405a to 406e, Socrates yearns for an honest and disciplined society, Continue reading...

Individual Morality in Plato’s Republic

While Plato’s Republic is a text often studied for its ideas of justice and society, Plato also offers in The Republic a framework for individual morality. Though Plato’s work begins as an argument between Socrates and Polemarchus discuss individual morality as representation of their beliefs of a well-ordered state, their discussion can be taken and applied to a individual system of morality that still applies as a viable framework for morality today.
Plato insisted upon order in all things. In order to have a well ordered state, one needed to have well ordered citizens within the state. Continue reading...

Allegory of the Cave, also known as the Analogy of the Cave, is a story narrated by the famous Greek philosopher (Plato) in his popular writing called the Republic. The story talks about three men chained to the wall such that they cannot turn their heads. Behind the prisoners is a fireplace. There is also a parapet (between the prisoners and the fire) along which puppeteers can walk. As the puppeteers hold up puppets, they cast shadows onto the wall of the cave. However, the prisoners cannot see the real objects; they can only see shadows on the wall Continue reading...

Socrates is well known as a classical Greek philosopher. He is credited as one of the unique founders of the Western philosophy. He is remembered as an enigmatic figure, known chiefly by the accounts of all classical writers. This is well manifested through the writings of his two students, Xenophon and Plato, together with the plays associated with his contemporary Aristophanes. On the other hand, the Socratic problem is the impossible or difficult nature of establishing what information from an antiquity clearly reflects the attributes and views of historical Socrates. Socrates, a main character in the dialogues of Plato, Continue reading...

Plato was a prominent Greek philosopher who posed elementary questions about human nature, education and justice. He was a student of another famous Greek philosopher, Socrates. One of Plato’s greatest philosophical ideals regards the concept of an ideal state with ideal rulers. Part of Plato’s educational ideas was derived from his personal conception of justice, both for the state and for an individual. He was of the view that individuals are actually mutually dependent for their survival and well-being. He also proposed that the concept of justice in an ideal state is congruent with that in an Continue reading...

Philosophy

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist from 384 to 322 B.C. (Dunn F75). He was born in Stagira of Chalkidiki in northern areas of Greece. He was among those people who laid the foundation of western philosophy. Nicomachus, who was the father of Aristotle, worked as the court physician to the Macedonian king Amyntas II. He died when Aristotle was a child. Phaestis, mother of Aristotle, is also thought to have died in the young age of Aristotle. After the death of his father, Proxenus of Atarneus became the guardian of Aristotle. Proxenus of Atarneus was the husband Continue reading...

Plato and Aristotle, along with the first great philosopher Socrates, are considered to be the founders of all philosophical concepts and the top of Greek philosophy. They developed such philosophical systems that lately found a number of adherents, and even nowadays famous philosophers apply to the classic works of Plato and Aristotle since after these Greek authors there were not any fundamentally new ideas in philosophical studies. However, the difference between Plato’s and Aristotle’s views is significant; even though Plato laid the foundation of many political, social thoughts and the theory of Ideas, they were criticized by Continue reading...

Women in Ancient Greece

OUTLINE
I. Introduction
Thesis: Plato’s Symposium, Euripides’ Medea and Lysias’ Murder of Eratosthenes demonstrate that women had no place in Ancient Greek culture, other than to produce children and run a household.
II. Plato’s Symposium
A. Pausanias begins his speech describing two types of love: heavenly and common. Common love is a physical type of love, something to be had between a man and a woman.
B. Aristophanes, a comedian, gave a speech about humans being split in two by Zeus and because of this we are always looking for our other half. Men who want women, Continue reading...

In the Book X of „The Republic“, Plato asks Socrates to explain why philosophy and poetry are opposed. They seem to be on different sides of the same issue. According to Plato, philosophy teaches people the way they should conduct their lives and how to be moral and poetry and art, such as painting, only corrupts people. Plato believes that art „is at the third remove from reality, nothing more than semblances, easy to produce with no knowledge of the truth“ (Plato, 2011, p. 25).
Philosophers offer „moral and religious guides to the conduct of life“ (Plato, 2011, p. Continue reading...

Introduction

The word knowledge can be stated to be a very complex. Its complexity is what has caused many people in the world including the philosophers to try to find the true meaning of knowledge. Some examples of the philosophers that have searched for its meaning are Edmund Gettier and Plato. The first person ever to define the term knowledge it is claimed to be Plato. He described knowledge to be the justified true beliefs. This term has been used by many people in the society and they have believed in its meaning. The reason for stating this is because Continue reading...

There are but few philosophers in the history of modern thought that is as important and as far-reaching as Plato. His Republic is justly regarded as the most comprehensive masterwork of his middle years, discussing some of the most basic questions of contemporary Western philosophy. Interestingly, it has set the agenda for many questions in ethical thought, from political philosophy, art, education, metaphysics, and other arenas for philosophical and ethical inquiry. While much of the work appears to be an argument for a perfectly just community, it may also be observed as the greatest argument ever presented against political Continue reading...

It is sometimes thought that Machiavelli disliked idealist positions such as those expressed by Plato or Aristotle when studying politics. Indeed, he actually proposed an approach to the study of politics that stood far away from what the classic philosophers formulated. This paper will expose the ideas expressed by the classical philosophers and see how Machiavelli differed from them and even criticized their approach.
Most of western political philosophy is built on ideas that have been under development for thousands of years. Two of the most discussed authors are the Greek classics who gave the first notions of state Continue reading...

Plato's Influence on Medieval Thought

Plato's Influence on Medieval Thought

Introduction

Plato was born in 428/427 BCE in Athens, Greece. He was a Greek philosopher and Socrates’ student. Plato founded the Academy and best known for his efforts in philosophical works depicting unparalleled influence. Building on various demonstrations by individuals like Socrates that those considered as experts in every ethical matter did not have proper understanding necessary for a prompt human life, Plato came up an idea that the mistake were caused by their lack of proper engagement with a class of identities that he referred to as forms. Key examples of these forms include Continue reading...

Plato's views on the place of women in the ideal state clarify its understanding of the relationships as biological and cultural, as well as private and public.
In his work "Republic" which is considered his major work, Plato expands upon the equality of women and men. This is particularly noteworthy if we take into account the situation of women in contemporary Greek society.
Thus, in ancient Greece, women could not even leave their homes without the permission of their husbands specifically they were not admitted to any meeting or event. Women in antiquity were completely excluded from direct or Continue reading...

In Plato’s Phaedrus, Socrates warns Phaedrus that “in every one of us there are two guiding and ruling principles” (Plato, 54). These two principles are of the same two conflicting natures found in Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train. Just as Plato’s virtuous horse and his dark, intemperate horse ride side by side guided by the same charioteer, for Highsmith, “good and evil, live side by side in the human heart, and not merely in differing proportions in one man and the next” (Highsmith, 180). Highsmith demonstrates that in the same way Plato shows the dark Continue reading...

Introduction

Aristotle is famously known as one of the greatest Greek philosopher and scientist who lived between 384 to 322 BC .His writing covered a lot of subjects including metaphysics, zoology, biology, ethics, logic physics and many more. After Plato’s death he was chosen to teach Alexander the great which gave him many opportunities .Plato was also a renowned philosopher and mathematician who lived between the years 428 to 347 BC. He started an academy in Athens where Aristotle was his student and was in the frontline in laying foundation for western philosophy and science. Though the two philosophers Continue reading...

Many scientists, philosophers, and writers dreamed about an absolutely perfect life. Nowadays not everyone knows the definition of the word "utopia", and even more so, not everyone will be able to talk about the basics of this philosophy.
The word "utopia" from Greek means "a place that does not exist." Means the perfect place and the perfect society in which there are no disadvantages.
As soon as people began to realize themselves and their existence, they began to think of an ideal society and world without drawbacks. This philosophical movement has started with works of ancient Greek philosophers. The Continue reading...

Introduction

Plato in his work The Republic dialogues with other great thinkers of his era in an endeavor to develop a perfect governance system. In the dialogue, various elements of the government become prominent. The key elements are justice and leadership of the city. The dialogue seeks debate on and develops a system of governance or a city where there are minimal disputes and perfect leadership. The main argument in the platonic dialogue is that the other governments that Plato approached with varying scorn were ineffective in running a state; on their stead, Plato proposed his version on a republic. Continue reading...

There are but few philosophers in the history of modern thought that is as important and as far-reaching as Plato. His Republic is justly regarded as the most comprehensive masterwork of his middle years, discussing some of the most basic questions of contemporary Western philosophy. Interestingly, it has set the agenda for many questions in ethical thought, from political philosophy, art, education, metaphysics, and other arenas for philosophical and ethical inquiry. While much of the work appears to be an argument for a perfectly just community, it may also be observed as the greatest argument ever presented against political Continue reading...

Introduction

The passage from the Republic by Plato is prone to different interpretations. To gain full comprehension of the passage the reader is obliged to delve deep into the platonic debate between Socrates and Glaucon. The trajectory of the argument according to Plato, was that democracies are governments ran by fools. The principal argument in the discussion was that democracies elect courses of action without a coherent understanding of the matter they are handling. The overriding argument was that only those who are fully experienced in statecraft should be allowed to rule. ‘Socrates argued that the cobbler and the medical Continue reading...

Cicero, in his work "De Re Publica" wrote that he didn't install his own, new, invented the terms, but reproduce from memory the conversation between renowned wisest men of his country. In turn, these" famous men": Scipio Africanus, Laelius and others - have repeatedly resorted to the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers, referring to Plato and Aristotle.
Creativity Plato to the present day remains at the focus of researchers of different directions. For historians in particular, his works are interesting primarily as a reflection of the time period when they were written. Aristotle also belongs to the Continue reading...

Analysis of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” using “Apology” and “Crito”

The works of Martin Luther King and Socrates show the ideologies of both men in their defense against persecutions made by their governments. In a bid to defend their actions, both authors present their arguments with respect to their particular surroundings. Consequently, as each seeks a form of liberty, there are some likeness, and in some instances disparities, between records of their arguments. In fact, at one point, King likens his condition and arguments to those made by the Greek philosopher. According to King, Socrates urges the Greek society to rise from a “the bondage of myths and half-truths” ( Continue reading...

Socrates is popular for his shifting thoughts on Greek philosophical ideas about the nature of the universe. Philosophers before Socrates’ time also examined of the problems associated with human life. Nonetheless, Socrates was the first philosopher to analyze ethics as a science. In addition, Socrates looked at the principles of human life from a methodical and consistent perspective. Many critics note that Socrates influenced the expansion of Western philosophy and culture in many ways. In fact, a number of critics believe that Socrates was instrumental in his teachings and such thoughts impacted on the development of Christianity. Arguably, Socrates Continue reading...

Plato’s “Apology” of Socrates is perhaps one of the most famous and most important works to have been produced in the classical age of Greek philosophy. Written as a speech in a legal proceeding, the defense of Socrates primarily concerns the philosopher’s justification in breaking the law against ‘impiety’ – for offending the Olympian gods recognized in the city’s festivals and other official activities. Socrates’s charge was that, in the way it was laid, Socrates had been carrying on his philosophical work in Athens long before the event in question. The Apology is a reconstruction of Continue reading...

Introduction

The four articles in question seek to give insight into the perspective of a how the society thinks and views issues. They are highlighted in the most common aspects in society such as acceptance, status and morality. In addition, the politics, educational and economic issues have their place in how humans think. The essays, in addition, seek to clarify the basis on which the thoughts we encounter daily are premised. At the same time, certain similaritieshave been incorporated in the issues presented. The writers were all acclaimed scholars in the study of the mind, issues in society and the Continue reading...

Plato looks at pleasure as a source of delight and sensual enjoyment. In his work ‘Gorgias’, Plato talks of Socrates, and makes him relay his views. His concept is that things are termed beautiful based on the pleasure derived from them or their use. In the same way, the lack of pleasure from an item determines its lack of beauty. Plato classifies pleasure into two categories. There are those pleasures that lead to good ends, and there are those pleasures that are purposed only for fulfilling desires. Therefore, there are good pleasures and bad pleasures. Plato holds that the Continue reading...

Philosophy of Love

Owing to the centrality and influence of love in human experience, women and men throughout the ages have had a compulsion to write verse, sing songs and tell stories. Essentially, the human experience of love reveals that it is a mysterious and ineffable force, which leads people to depths of despair and peaks of felicity. Love is the principle that underpins all human activity, the cause of human striving, which naturally results in the need to examine it judiciously (Plato, Nehamas and Woodruff, 1989, p. 6). Because of the complexity in the nature of love, Plato tries to explain Continue reading...

The Apology written by Plato precisely presents Socrates’ defence at his trial on charges of corrupting the youth of Athens. He failed to recognize the state gods and invented new deities. Socrates explains in a very plain manner his method and motivation which earned him admiration amongst the Athens youth. He argues that his admiration made some people to dislike him, including his prosecutor. In our modern understanding of the word “apology”, Socrates’ defence is not an apology by any means (Plato 21).
Socrates begins his defence by explaining that he has no experience with the law courts, “This Continue reading...

This paper is an attempt to discuss and explicate the concept of ‘justice’ in Plato’s work, ‘The Republic’. To achieve the paper’s objective, the paper gives an overview of ‘The republic’; then it continues with defining justice and its significance.
‘The Republic’ is Plato’s most popular work on its full-grown philosophical outlook. It is a complete file of the most basic behaviors and ideologies found in human life. Plato explained the value and the nature of justice as well as the other related virtues as they emerge together in the formation of the society and in Continue reading...