The Questioning Methods Employed by Socrates and Plato
Socrates and Plato used critical and analytical thinking patterns in their philosophical quest for knowledge. The questioning of why and how or critical and analytical thinking are the foundations of their beliefs. Plato was the student and Socrates the teacher. Socrates believed that reasoning could give meaning to the what, how and why of moral judgment and Plato believed this type of reasoning would give understanding to “the perfect Goodness” (pg. 17). Plato believed that this kind of thinking and rational could only be used by a minority that possessed this perfect Goodness understanding. He believed that the rules of morality were objective or something that could be applied to everyone everywhere and all the time. This was absolute and unconditional.
I did find it fascinating how Plato description of the Greek democracy's form of government closely mirrored our own Republican party, whereas those who pursued politics only do so for power, wealth or fame. How this was not in the interest of everyone, but rather how the Athenian democracy gave rule to the few by “irrationally swaying the votes of the many by manipulating their fears and emotions” (pg.17). Emotions are what ruled the unthinking mobs of voters in democracy instead of reasoning. But Plato's dislike for this type of government only came about mainly because of the condemnation of Socrates to death by the Athenian democracy. Thus his idea of a wise minority was better than majority.
Metaphysics became a resounding theory in his ideology questioning the ultimate nature of reality and questioning why the world is as it is. He believed that if something is true than it is always true, for example the sun rises and the sun sets. Plato also had the “realm of Forms” belief that even if it wasn't relative that didn't make it untrue. Simply truth, beauty or justice were example of knowledge of forms, Plato argued, and each no one can touch or see but are there and are innately placed. His
I did find it fascinating how Plato description of the Greek democracy's form of government closely mirrored our own Republican party, whereas those who pursued politics only do so for power, wealth or fame. How this was not in the interest of everyone, but rather how the Athenian democracy gave rule to the few by “irrationally swaying the votes of the many by manipulating their fears and emotions” (pg.17). Emotions are what ruled the unthinking mobs of voters in democracy instead of reasoning. But Plato's dislike for this type of government only came about mainly because of the condemnation of Socrates to death by the Athenian democracy. Thus his idea of a wise minority was better than majority.
Metaphysics became a resounding theory in his ideology questioning the ultimate nature of reality and questioning why the world is as it is. He believed that if something is true than it is always true, for example the sun rises and the sun sets. Plato also had the “realm of Forms” belief that even if it wasn't relative that didn't make it untrue. Simply truth, beauty or justice were example of knowledge of forms, Plato argued, and each no one can touch or see but are there and are innately placed. His