Analysis of Phaedo by Plato

Critical Analysis of Phaedo by Plato Much of the Phaedo by Plato is composed of arguments for the nature of the physiologic world and how it relates to the afterward aliveness, for subject, the way our senses perceive the world and how indulging in those senses has negative consequences in our after lives. These arguments find basis in scientific analytic thinking of the time as swell as the mythos of the his age. One of the key talking points within the story is the theory of forms.The aforementioned theory is formed from two beliefs, the first of which is that our senses deceive us and that theres an existential plane where perfect beings exist and the perfect ideas of the material things in the world are there too. All of these concepts are intricately intertwined through turn out the story although Plato doesnt explain all of them in great detail. That leaves one to question whether he writes them to justify his life or if perhaps hes figured something out that we as the readers book not.Despite how questionable some of Platos hypotheses are there are a couple that provide an interesting perspective on our world. The theory of forms spans the entirety of the withstand and is the most important argument in the Phaedo. This theory is the basis for the classic cave metaphor as well as one of the most reference beliefs through out the text. The theory of forms comes from the belief that there are two planes of existence consisting of the world we can see and that world that is beyond ours. Within the latter(prenominal) plane there are the perfect forms of all the things that we know.A form in the Phaedo is a perfect representation of the bodily objects and ideas of our world they are also divine, deathless, intelligible, uniform, indissoluble, unceasingly the same as itself. 1 For example, the form of a bow is the perfect idea of what a table should be while an actual table is just the fragile physical representation of that form. According to Pl ato its not possible for us to ever build a table as strong as the form of table because our senses are flawed and they dont allow us to perceive the world perfectly.The last point in the explanation of a form is another part to this argument. Plato makes it well known that he doesnt retrieve that people should trust their senses because we are naturally prone to deceiving ourselves. Such an idea isnt scientifically possible only if the concept rightfully sticks when you look at it not as a1 statement for reality but as a statement for the metaphysical. That is to say that when you apply this concept to our human world one could say that theres something beautiful hidden in the notion that we can never achieve perfect beauty.Theres no point arguing that which isnt plausible but theres a lot of value in applying it to other aspects of our mortal lives. The second belief that is prevalent through out the Phaedo is the belief that our senses deceive us. The most benefit example fro m the text of this comes from a conversation between Simmias and Socrates in which Socrates asks What again shall we say of the actual acquirement of knowledge? is the body, if invited to share in the inquiry, a hinderer or a helper? I mean to say, have sight and hearing any truth in them?Are they not, as the poets are always relative us, inaccurate witnesses? and yet, if even they are inaccurate and indistinc This is belief finds scientific basis in things that occur naturally in the world. For example, a very common example for this belief is refraction in water. When this occurs one could argue that it is indisputable proof that our senses deceive us. The evidence presented in the Phaedo for this subject is not debatable. The case could be make though for the belief that we have scientific tools now that allow for us to view our physical world quite accurately.However, the Theory of Forms spans more than just the physical concepts in our world but it also extends in to the me taphysical such as our emotions and concepts such as beauty and perfection and none of these things are adapted of being accurately perceived. Perhaps, despite what Plato has said earlier about our senses deceiving us, with all the technological advances we have to better understand our world there is the possibility that we have further skewed our ability to analyze the world.All the tools scientists use in this day and age come from mathematical calculations and human senses. Plato at times conveniently dialogue about how the philosopher upon death is destined to live in Hades, a place where all souls go when they die. However, he also makes the claim that a philosopher doesnt just go to Hades but he is destined to spend time among the gods understanding the forms that they live among. he who has lived as a true philosopher has reason to be of goodness cheer when he is about to die, and that after death he may hope to receive the greatest good in the other world. 2 This belief h as an subterranean motive, Plato spends a great deal of time arguing that indulging in your senses in any way from eating food that you love to having an intimate kindred is wrong despite the fact he had a wife and kids. He also claims that only the common man fears death because they are obsessed with these physical responses from the things in our world. Thinking realistically as opposed to idealistically theres no reason that an idiosyncratic cant indulge in the pleasures of the world and continue to gather knowledge.Many philosophers would disagree with Platos analysis of the human condition. That is to say that, many philosophers look towards expanding our experience in the physical world as an optimistic and healthy endeavor. Platos belief that our experience in the physical world isnt as important as the afterlife is very dangerous and limited thinking because it encourages individuals to live their life with a very small gear up of reference. If Platos belief transcript ion was commonly accepted then we wouldnt have the chance to understand the complexities of emotion and our relationships with other people.Nor would individuals understand the impact of drugs on their body and the life experience that comes from using those substances. As mentioned earlier, its extremely limited thinking and damaging to the quality of life of most individuals in society. However, despite Platos limited belief system I think a lot of what he said holds a lot of value in his time. Itd be hard in Platos era for an individual to sort through the obvious mistruths communicated within the Phaedo due to the lack of science as it relates to our biological functions.But what an individual cant take from Platos Phaedo theres a lot they can. For instance, if one cant believe in Platos Theory of Forms they can still appreciate the value of knowing that if there was a perfect form of beauty that humans could never understand then at least theres still things in this world that cause our hearts to stop for a moment in awe of their beauty whether it be a spouse, the ocean, or earth from from more than 12,000 feet in the air. Bibliography Eva, Brann, Kalkavage Peter, and Salem Eric.Platos Phaedo. Newburyport, MA Focus Publishing. Roland, Jon. The Constitution, Platos Phaedo. Last modified 2012. Accessed October 30, 2012. http//www. constitution. org/pla/phaedo. htm. 1 . . Eva, Brann, Kalkavage Peter, and Salem Eric. Platos Phaedo. Newburyport, MA Focus Publishing. 2 . Roland, Jon. The Constitution, Platos Phaedo. Last modified 2012. Accessed October 30, 2012. http//www. constitution. org/pla/phaedo. htm.