Philosophize This!

Episode #004 ... Plato

Jul 1, 2013

Delve into Plato's whimsical take on philosophy through his narrative in the 'Symposium', akin to a literary fan fiction. Explore the intriguing 'Theory of Forms' and ponder what truly defines objects, like a tree. Uncover the unsettling insights of the 'Allegory of the Cave', questioning if our perceptions are mere shadows. Finally, grasp Plato's critical view on democracy, which he ranks just above tyranny, alongside his visionary hopes for a government led by wise philosopher-kings.

45:01

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Quick takeaways

Plato's Theory of Forms suggests that there is a perfect world of forms separate from the imperfect material world, and true knowledge can only be attained through reason and the soul's innate knowledge.

Plato believes that an ideal city-state should be governed by philosopher kings, with a hierarchical class structure and communal living, guided by wisdom, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Deep dives

Plato's Theory of Forms and the Allegory of the Cave

Plato introduces his Theory of Forms, which posits that there is an ideal world of perfect forms that exist separately from the imperfect material world. He uses the Allegory of the Cave to illustrate this concept, where humans are imprisoned in a cave and perceive the shadows cast on the wall as reality. True knowledge and understanding can only be attained through reason and the soul's ability to recollect innate knowledge. Plato argues that the material world is a mere replica of the perfect forms and that philosophers, with their ability to reason, are best suited to rule in an aristocratic government.

Plato's Five Types of Regimes

02:52

The Transformative Road Trip and the Founding of the Academy

00:57

The Cosmos Is Made Out Of And How Did It Get Here?

01:20

Knowledge Through Reason, Governance Through Ideals

01:18

Intro

6min

Plato: The Philosopher as a Storyteller

2min

Plato's Philosophical Journey with Socrates

26min

The Importance of Specialization and Plato's Vision for Society

3min

Plato's Vision of Governance and Moral Leadership

8min

In this week's episode, we learn about Plato's "Symposium", which you might think of as philosophy's version of fan fiction. We also learn about Plato's "Theory of Forms" and ask ourselves what makes a tree, well, a tree. This leads to discussion of Plato's famous "Allegory of the Cave" and calls into question whether or not everything we see is merely a shadow of its true self. Finally, we learn about Plato's views on society and government and why he thought democracy was one of the worst forms of government, second only to tyranny.

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