For My Soul Mate

Brittany Ankrom McLaney

Professor Brent McMillian

In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements of Philosophy for Theology

September 23, 2010

“An Overview of Plato’s Epistemological and Metaphysical Views”

The Form of the Good is the ultimate eternal concept of the form, which is the eternal concept of the epitome of an existing thing. Plato believed that just as the Sun existed to sustain and cause the earth to exist that the Form of the Good’s purpose is to sustain and cause the forms to exist.

Since a form is the eternal concept of the epitome of an existing thing, that existing thing is simply a copy of the form. Plato suggests that when a person experiences a tangible existing object, the object is not completely real for it is simply a copy of the form, or perfect perception of that object.  For example, any object that exists in Plato’s idea of the finite world of becoming is not ultimately real, for it came into existence and will eventually cease to exist, indicating its existence only as a duplication of the form.

Plato delineated his ideas of how forms exist in relationship to a human being’s reality by utilizing the imagery of a cave and as a person’s climb in the cave as a metaphorical ascent to wisdom.

At the bottom of the cave, the first stage of the ascent, a person sits in the “imagining” level of their reality. At this level, the person would be sitting, facing a wall, hands and feet bound, and only able to see the appearance of shadows on the wall. The person’s state of reality in this position is a place where only changeable, malleable ideas formed by persuasion exist. At this level, a person’s reality consists of reflections or perceptions of what they believe to be true only by virtue of external influences.

Those who continue to venture upward in Plato’s cave escape the first stage and move to the second stage of the ascent that he describes as the “opinions” level of reality. At this level a person’s awareness of a tangible reality replaces their previous experience of an image-only reality. At this level there is a fire that illumines the objects that were casting the shadows on the wall in the first stage. It is a move to the visible world and allows for a perception that was impossible in the bottom of the cave.

To move upward again would bring a person to the third level and final stage of the ascent that Plato describes as the “thoughts” level of reality. This level is to move from the visible world to the intelligible world. The world where it is possible to know that not only do objects exist, but that they are copies of the perfect eternal concept of that same object, the “form” of that object. Initially, the person would only be able to see what Plato referred to as the “lower forms” or reflections of the Sun. The Form of the Good can be seen at this stage of the ascent, but would only be visible gradually and throughout the process of dialectic. It is the same concept as if a person was sitting in a dark movie theater and were to step out into the blindingly bright sunlight. His or her vision would be temporarily unclear and they would probably only be able to make out basic dark forms around them for several seconds. In the same way, when a person experiences this level of reality, they would know that the lower forms exist and through the process of dialectic come to understand that the Form of the Good is real.

Plato’s idea of the cave indicated his strong belief in the essentiality of upward mobility in a person’s pursuit for wisdom. However, Plato does not pretend that this climb toward wisdom is comfortable or effortless in any way. In fact, he indicates just how uncomfortable and agonizing the ascent can be and how easy it might be for a person to remain at the bottom of the cave and to be complacent in their imprisoned, ignorant state.

Plato suggests that the motivation for the journey does not depend solely on the wisdom itself, but in a person’s love or desire for wisdom. Only a person’s desire for wisdom would be enough of a driving force for a person to go through the challenges one might encounter on the journey to reach the highest level of understanding Plato believes is possible—knowledge of the Form of the Good.

Plato’s view on the necessity of upward mobility for the pursuit of wisdom is particularly relevant to one’s understanding of what it takes to achieve greatness in any circumstance. Achieving greatness requires a dedication to continue an ascent even when the challenge seems too difficult and it would be far easier to remain unmoving. Sometimes, in life, people experience events that should be crippling to their very existence. But somehow, in the midst of the devastating life event, the desire for greatness or betterment pushes one to continue to climb upwards. One might return to the bottom for a period, but the hope in this view is that once one returns to a previous stage that they would realize how unfulfilling that place would become after having experienced a higher level of greatness.