Beautiful And Good For The Soul example essay topic

Plato's Graded Reality vs. Plotinus's Nera Dabney Aesthetics Phil 265- 01 Professor Michael Eng The Republic is a form of government and a model for the soul. Through Plato's study we are able to understand all parts of the universe and the soul and their relation to the Truth or The Good in what is called Plato's Epistemology or his Graded Reality. The supreme idea is the idea of the Good. Plato's theory on the intelligible world and the world of appearances creates a narrow reality.

His Graded Reality provides order and knowledgeable insight into the world, as well as direction from which the world works. Plato was leading men to find the Good. According to Plato there exist two worlds, the word of appearances that which can be perceived and the intelligible world that which is known. The world of appearances exist on two levels (A) images and (B) physical things. A desk would be a physical object (in the belief or pistis state of mind) and a painting of that desk would be an image (in the imagining or eikasia state of mind). The intelligible world exists on two levels as well (C) mathematical objects and (D) forms or ideas.

The ability to use deduction to break down a desk into basic shapes and characteristics and recognize other desk is an ex ample of a mathematical object (in the thinking or dianoia state of mind). The mere thought, knowledge or idea of the desk is an example of forms and ideas (in the intelligence and knowledge or noesis and episteme state of mind). In the forms and ideas is also where you find all things that are considered beautiful, such as a person's soul and nature. God, weather from choice or from necessity, made one bed in nature and one only; two or more such ideal beds neither ever have been nor ever will be made by God. Why is that? Because even if He had made but two, a third would still appear behind them which both of them would have for their idea, and that would be the ideal bed and two others.

Very true, he said. God knew this and he desired to be the maker of the only bed, not a particular maker of a particular bed, and therefore He created a bed which is essentially and by nature one only. So we believe. Shall we, then, speak of him as a natural author or maker of the bed? Yes, he replied; inasmuch as by the natural process of creation He is the author of this and of all other things.

And what shall we say of the carpenter -is not he also the maker of the bed? Yes. But would you call the painter a creator and maker? Certainly not. Yes if he is not the maker, what is he in relation to the bed? I think, he said.

That we may fairly designated him as the imitator of that which the others make. Good, I said; then you call him who is third in the descent from nature an imitator? (Hofstadter, 332-33) The actual concept of the desk would come from the God or the "ho theos", the creator of forms and ideas. "The God" would give the idea of the desk to the carpenter. The carpenter or artisan would create the desk as a # dimensional object. The painter will then come along and as an artist he will create 2 dimensional mimesis or imitation of the desk.

The difference between the carpenter and the artist is in their techn e or their knowledge of what they create. The painter does not need to know anything thing about the construction of the desk to paint a good likeness of it. Not only that but you learn nothing through the act of mimesis you learn nothing about the construction of the desk he painted, and it relays information for only 2 dimensions. The carpenter on the other hand must be very knowledgeable about the construction of the desk in order to create it, in addition to working in 3 dimensions, and the more he creates the more he will learn about the desk".

Here is another point: The imitator or maker of the image knows nothing of true existence: he knows appearances only". (Hofstadter, 36) This "ho theos" exist in what is called the Good. The Good is also considered the Truth and it exist in the intelligible world, and is used to define everything else according to how close to the Good something is. For instance forms and ideas are the closest to the Good or once removed from the Good so they are better than images, which are the farthest or three times removed from the Good. Images are also looked down on because they are an imitation on mimesis of the physical thing. It is also believed that mimesis appeals to the wrong part of the soul.

Plato's Epistemology / The Divided Line The World of Existence Objects The State of Mind The intelligible World The Good (D) Forms / Ideas noesis or episteme (Intelligence or Knowledge) (C) Mathematical Objects dianoia (Thinking) The World of Appearances (B) Physical Things pistis (Belief) (A) Images eikasia (Imagining) Plato believes the soul has two principle halves, the rational and the irrational. The rational half tells you to take it easy in confrontational situations, and the irrational or emotional half tells you to retaliate. The soul is then divided into three smaller parts the legislative, the appetitive, and the seat of desires. The legislative contains your reason, the appetitive part consist of your need for revenge, greed and anger. Mimesis appeals to the seat of desires.

If you consider the appetitive part of your soul and your seat of desires as horses, since it is easy for them to run wild. Then consider the legislative part of your soul as the charioteer, because you should always use your reason to guide you. It should be easy to see that a person cannot be lead by their seat of desires or their emotions and still remain sane. Mimesis in the Republic is some what accepted in books 2 and 3 as long as it is censored, if it tells a story that story must be true. Like wise you cannot tell a lie in the story because people might imitate what goes on in the story. However this also places the poet in the same shoes as the painter, because as the painter creates a false version of the chair the poet has the ability to create false and imitative words.

These imitative words will appeal to the irrational part of the soul since they are full of passion and emotion like that part of the soul. Artistic expression is three times remover = d from the Good, and by the end of Book 10 all mimesis is looked down on. What then happens to art? Is what the painter creates not at least beautiful and good for the soul? Plato makes the argument that the condition or state that we live in is based upon his Graded Reality and the Good. Both strongly suggest that artist expression is not important, or not good for the soul.

He believes that beauty can only exist in things that are either forms or ideas. For example true beauty would be found in the soul of another person not a work of art. But of beauty, I repeat again that we saw her there shining in company with the celestial forms; and the coming to earth we find her too, shining in clearness through the clearest aperture of sense. For sight is the most piercing of our bodily senses; through not by that is wisdom seen; her loveliness would have been transporting if there had been a visible image of her and the other ideas, if they had visible counterparts, would be equally lovely. But this is the privilege of beauty, that being the loveliest she is also the most palpable to sight.

(Hofstadter, 61) Why can't it be found in all aspects of reality? Doesn't every one have different experiences to mold them in to who they were? We are different and we all have our own opinions. Some one may see beauty in a dog, a rock, a waterfall, a rug or even a chair.

At this time in history art and beauty are not equated to each other. But regardless, it is through that mimesis that we learn to walk, talk and function in society. We can learn priceless lesions through trial and error, however it is easier and quicker to learn through mimesis. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

In war, if you fight a battle and loose before the next battle you will reevaluate your opponent's tactics and make them your own. And if we did not gain from mimesis in anyway then it would not be an issue, but the potential that mimesis hold is vast. And we like our primate cousins need it. Monkey see, Monkey do.

Plato does point out several strengths in his Graded Reality. The basic set up of the Graded Reality is correct there is an intelligible world and a world of appearances. The concept of a ho theos is correct and the base of most of the worlds religions. There are many philosophers that live today and much of what we currently believe or trust in is based from the philosophies of the past.

We have become a society that is ruled not by the Good but by ourselves, thinking only with the irrational part of our brains. But we do have respect for those who have brought us to this point and Plato was one of the most influential philosophers of his time.

Bibliography

Hofstadter, Albert, Philosophies of art and beauty; selected readings in aesthetics from Plato to Heidegger. New York, Modern Library. 1964..