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The great chain of being (from Latin scala naturae 'ladder of being') is a concept derived from Plato, Aristotle (in his Historia Animalium), Plotinus and Proclus. [4] Further developed during the Middle Ages, it reached full expression in early modern Neoplatonism. [5] [6]
In Plato's Republic, the character of Socrates is highly critical of democracy and instead proposes, as an ideal political state, a hierarchal system of three classes: philosopher-kings or guardians who make the decisions, soldiers or "auxiliaries" who protect the society, and producers who create goods and do other work. [1]
[1] [clarification needed] Magnificence (μεγαλοπρεπεια) is one of the virtues listed by Meno in Plato's dialogue of that name. [2] Magnificence is the special quality in Plato's conception of the philosopher-king, as presented in the fifth and sixth books of The Republic. Only those with a philosophical and educational temperament ...
Plato associated the four cardinal virtues with the social classes of the ideal city described in The Republic, and with the faculties of humanity. Plato narrates a discussion of the character of a good city where the following is agreed upon: Clearly, then, it will be wise, brave, temperate [literally: healthy-minded], and just.
Plato's most self-critical dialogue is the Parmenides, which features Parmenides and his student Zeno, which criticizes Plato's own metaphysical theories. Plato's Sophist dialogue includes an Eleatic stranger. These ideas about change and permanence, or becoming and Being, influenced Plato in formulating his theory of Forms. [54]
In Plato's dialogues, the soul plays many disparate roles. Among other things, Plato believes that the soul is what gives life to the body (which was articulated most of all in the Laws and Phaedrus ) in terms of self-motion: to be alive is to be capable of moving oneself; the soul is a self-mover.
Plato believed the ideal state would be ruled by an elite class of rulers known as "Guardians" and rejected the idea of social equality. [7] Plato believed in an authoritarian state. [7] Plato held Athenian democracy in contempt by saying: "The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals ...
Value theory is the interdisciplinary study of values.Also called axiology, it examines the nature, sources, and types of values.Primarily a branch of philosophy, it is an interdisciplinary field closely associated with social sciences like economics, sociology, anthropology, and psychology.