Plato
Plato is the first philosopher set up philosophy as a total principle and a total human study. He was s pupil and the most influential successor to Socrates. Plato theorized Socrates’ act of life, his pursuit for virtue and truth, thought and questions, then established a philosophical principale theory (as a love of wisdom) for the first time.
And Plato, in his dialogues, treated many philosophical topics such as being, virtue, wisdom, beauty and politics which last until now.
The Theory of Ideas
Plato’s famous and important key concept is the theory of Ideas, also called the theory of forms, the doctrine of ideas.
The word origin of idea is “idein”, “to see” in ancient grec. The meaning of word idea in is “form or appearance is seen”. Also Aristotle’s eidos (form) has same origin and similar meaning. (But their actual meaning is different.) Idea is not unclear, airy, fluid or rough concept. It’s an abstract and unreal but solid and absolute form in the heaven, of which things and abstract concepts have. Plato’s idea is the original ideal form of each of things. Ideas belong to each species of things and concepts.
For example square. A square on a paper written by a man isn’t perfect, the lines are not completely straight and same length, and have thickness, the angles are not completely right angle, and the inner space is not completely closed or the lines stick out slightly. But we recognize it as a square. Like this, Plato thinks a square on a paper shares the idea of square. And Plato thinks each things (such as tree, desk and horse) and abstract concepts (such as good, love and beauty) have their ideas. Also things are in existence since they are provided, shared out by their idea.
Plato’s thinking is curious for us, but it supposed to have the aim to criticize the realistic view, materialism and decadence of Athens’ democracy, Presocratic philosophers and sophists. Their thoughts are things to leave to take its own course. Socrates and Plato thought the cause of the decadence is especially realism, practicalism and relativism of sophists.
Until Socrates, Presocratic philosophers researched the rule and system in the nature and they think there’s truth in the nature. Platon made the view to world reversed. Plato’s theory of ideas advocate the value of things and politics as they should be. The thought of Plato is order of spirit or mind makes a world. So the truth is in a mind of each persons.
Universal Principle and Problems of Platonism
The property of Ideas of each things are eternal and unchangeable. So an idea is identical and universal for everyone. By Plato’s thought, all wise men and men want to live good pursue and want the idea of good. And the idea of good is one and eternal, so they can understand mutually and have the universal principle of good. The theory of ideas shows possibility of mutual understanding and universal principle.
Plato’s philosophical thought by the theory of ideas called Platonism. Platonism teaches us the value of pursuit truth, virtue, wisdom and beauty. It’s a kind of idealism, positivism and optimism. There are ideal and perfect states of things in the world of idea, the model of the real world, and we can pursuit them and we should do it. A typical influence by Platonism is seen on education. Children must not be led nature take its own course, should be educated to become a good person.
On the other hand, there are any problems of Platonism. Platonism thinks the truth or the idea of good is one. So it can’t accept diversity of values. And Platonism bring about logical optimism, excessive rationalism and totalitarianism.
Platonism thinks there’s the world of ideas beyond the real world far in the distance, and offers pursuit for the world of ideas and truth, but we can’t never reach and grasp the true, ideal and perfect states of things. Platonism is an idealism, so it never fulfil the thought perfectly. And it regard reality or the real world is inferior to the world of ideas, the real world is provisional and temporary world. So Platonism possibly result in nihilism and cynicism.
Binomial opposition of ideas and reality of Platonism have been influenced on the Western thought and culture for good and bad.
Conclusion
Plato theorized Socrates’ philosophy, established the philosophy as love of wisdom in earnest which became the tradition of philosophy, and set up the first total philosophical principle unit ontology, ethics, beauty, politics and so on. Theory of ideas includes and units ontology, ethics, aesthetics and political thought. The theory of ideas and Platonism are a strong and influential ways of thinking.
Platonism have been influenced on the Western thought and culture. But it concealed the value of diversity, and regarded earthly world and life inferior and worthless.
References
Hiroyuki Ogino, Symposion of Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle (NHK Publishing, 2003)
Julia Annas, Plato: Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2003)
Paul Strathern, Plato in 90 Minutes (Ivan R. Dee, 1996)
Seiji Takeda, Introduction to Plato (Chikuma Books, 2015)
Jean-François Revel, Histoire de la philosophie occidentale (Nil Éditions, 1994)
Luc Ferry & Claude Capelier, La plus belle histoire de la philosophie (Éditions Points, 2014)
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Bertrand Russell, The History of Western Philosophy (Simon & Schuster, 1972)
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Roger Scruton, A Short History of Modern Philosophy (Routledge, 2002)
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Thierry Paquot & François Pépin, Dictionnaire Larousse de la Philosophie (Éditions Larousse, 2011)
Simon Blackburn, The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (Second Edition Revised), (Oxford University Press, 2008)
Robert Audi, The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy (Second Edition), (Cambridge University Press, 1995)
Thomas Mautner, The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy (Second Edition), (Penguin Books, 2005)
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