Plato’s Theory of Ideas, Knowledge, and Ideal Society
Plato’s Theory of Ideas
Plato’s theory of ideas posits that ideas are the true self, representing absolute truths that are eternal, immutable, and independent of the phenomenal world. Plato believed in two distinct worlds:
- The Intelligible World: Composed of ideas, which are intelligible archetypes of material things. This is the true reality, invisible but accessible to intelligence. These ideas are hierarchical, with the idea of the Good at the top, illuminating all others and providing intelligibility to noetic objects. Abstract ideas (justice, beauty, etc.) follow, then numbers, and finally, ideas of sensitive objects.
- The Sensible World: Subject to generation and change, it is merely a copy of the intelligible world, perceived through the senses.
Plato’s Theory of Knowledge
Plato’s theory of knowledge is well represented in the myth of the line or the cave, which distinguishes four levels of knowledge:
- Eikasia (Imagination): Knowledge of the sensible world’s images (shadows in the cave).
- Pistis (Belief): Knowledge of the sensible world’s objects.
These two types of knowledge are sensitive and provide an opinion or doxa (knowledge of the changing visible world).
- Dianoia (Discursive Thought): Knowledge of mathematical entities.
- Noesis (Science or Knowledge): Knowledge of ideas, dialectic.
These two provide intellectual knowledge or episteme.
The Myth of the Cave
The myth of the cave is a metaphor for the human condition, illustrating how we often face deception. The story depicts individuals chained in a cave, facing shadows (images of the sensible world) projected by a fire (the Sun) and cast by figures (objects of the sensible world) carried by people passing behind them. These prisoners believe the shadows are reality, as they have known nothing else since childhood.
A philosopher escapes the cave, disrupting their established understanding and causing discomfort and pain. Initially, the escapee sees the figures casting the shadows and realizes that the shadows were not reality. Upon exiting the cave and seeing the sunlight, the philosopher gradually adjusts, first seeing shadows and reflections, then the projected figures, and finally understanding that the figures in the cave were mere representations of reality. This leads to a state of disappointment and discovery, fueling a thirst for knowledge.
The philosopher returns to the cave to enlighten the other prisoners, but they reject the truth, preferring their comfortable delusion and even attempting to harm the philosopher.
Plato’s Ideal Society and the Soul
Plato envisioned an ideal, perfect society composed of three parts:
- Artisans: Provide resources for basic needs through productive work, governed by the concupiscible soul.
- Guardians: Maintain security in the polis, guided by the irascible soul.
- Rulers: Lead the society, guided by the rational soul.
In Plato’s view, a just society is one where each individual fulfills their designated function. In this hierarchical society, each person receives an education tailored to their dominant soul.
The governor (philosopher) undergoes extensive education, funded by the State, including arithmetic, plane geometry, volumes, astronomy, harmony, and dialectical methods. This comprehensive education, known as the dialectic up, creates an obligation for the philosopher to use their knowledge for the benefit of the State, a process known as dialectic down.