PHIL 1110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Noble Lie, Paternalism, Essentialism
Plato’s Systematic Philosophy
Epistemology: Rationalism
Metaphysics: Essentialism
Ethics: Virtue Ethics and Objectivism (or Absolutism)
Logic (as opposed to rhetoric)
Republic: What is justice and why should we care about it?
The Ring of Gyges (Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Value)
Justice in the Individual and Justice in the State
The Unity of the Virtues
Philosopher Kings, Paternalism, and the Noble Lie
What the Wise Know and How they Know it (Plato’s Epistemology and Metaphysics)
The Cave Allegory
Individual Mind/Soul Virtue State
Reason Wisdom Rulers
Will Courage Guardians
Passion Temperance Producers
Justice
Plato’s Anti-Empiricist Argument
(1) The objects of knowledge must be:
(a) fixed, stable, and unchanging
(b) non-deceiving
(2) The objects of our senses are neither (a) nor (b)
(3) Therefore, the objects of our senses are not objects of knowledge
General Epistemological Distinction: Mere Belief (Opinion) / Knowledge (JTB)
General Metaphysical Distinction: Appearance / Reality
Plato’s Proposals
(Rationalism and Essentialism): Sensible Particulars / Essences (or Forms)
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