Range Of Thought In Nineteen Eighty Four example essay topic

Essay Question # 3: Compare And Contrast Submitted by: Serena Rogers # A 031489 Submitted To: Edith Farkas Course: Humanities: Knowledge & Authority Submitted On: December 10.02 "The Faces Of Idealism" by Serena Rogers Platonic Idealism is the view that ideas are independent of the thinking mind; existing incorporeally without sequence or co- existence, and that ideal forms (perfect ideas) exist eternally and absolutely. Plato thought that ideas were permanent and more real than material things because material things were in constant transition (state of change). Plato's Theory of Forms defines forms or ideas as existing in sets. The set encompasses the idea itself and all particular things which have the common denominator of that idea.

Each particular thing participates in the set of the form, and if any one of the particulars were to cease, the form would remain. This theory is discussed in The Republic Of Plato through the example of the set of beauty and infinite beautiful particulars. It explains that a Form (ie. Beauty) itself, excludes it's opposite; Ugliness. Beauty does not have the potential to ever become ugly, but any particular beautiful thing does have the ability to be or become ugly in a certain situation or aspect. That particular is open to opinion and can be viewed as ugly.

The Form of Beauty does not share these possibilities with it's particulars". That since beauty and ugliness are opposite, they are two things; and consequently each of them is one". - Plato. The Republic Of Plato. London: Oxford University Press, 1945. p 183 Both Platonic Idealism and Totalitarian Idealism are based on the view that the material world of things has little, if any significance, and that ideas are omni-important. Plato was very strong about this point, he encouraged men to constantly analyze, re- analyze, argue and prove either arguments they themselves had introduced, or already existing philosophies.

He did not think that physical evidence could be the basis for any proof because all physical and material things / objects were constantly changing. Any specific thing could potentially not prove or display the same product or outcome in the future. Totalitarian Idealism as in the dystopian society of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty Four, places highest power / position and respect with it's thinkers. The rulers (The Inner Party) create the laws and ideals that are used to indoctrinate the citizens of the two other classes of Oceania (the Outer party and the Proletarians).

The past or any physical evidence related to it, means absolutely nothing because the Party uses it's power to change what was (or is) in to what is convenient for them at any given moment. The difference though, between Platonic and Totalitarian Idealism is that Plato's perfect ideas are based on Rational Axioms (self- evident truths) and make logical, arguable sense. On the contrary, the Party's ideas are based on belief with only some empirical knowledge and fictional history. Since all thought is malleable, once rational ideas could be manipulated in to arbitrary, completely contradictory ideas. Since the past is constantly being re- invented, there is no comparative way to understand or be sure of the present. In Oceania this practice is titled 'Reality Control'".

If the Party could thrust its hand into the past and say of this event, it never happened - that, surely, was more terrifying than mere torture and death?" - Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty- Four. London: Penquin Books, 1990. p. 37 " - if all records told the same tale- then the lie passed into history and became truth". - Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty- Four. London: Penquin Books, 1990. p. 37 Through the teaching and study of geography, history, reading and writing in Oceania, produced by the ruling Inner Party, manufactured in their interest (fabricated reality), the citizens are propagandized and brainwashed with Ingsoc's ideologies.

Although the slogans that are seen, heard, (and felt) all over Oceania, make no logical sense outside of Nineteen Eighty Four; inside they are fact. "WAR IS PEACE" In Oceania, the idea of a clear, common enemy with such events or holidays as the daily "two minutes hate" and "hate week" not only allow the citizens an outlet to vent their pain and suppressed rage (subconsciously manifested against the Party), but also affirms the constant conspiracy and hatred incited by the Inner Party. These combine to maintain a certain peace and focus amongst the Outer Party and the Proles as they uniformly work toward the goal of winning and ending a war, that does not exist. The three super states involved, will perpetually maintain the illusion of war for their own benefits and peace amongst the masses". FREEDOM IS SLAVERY" The citizens of Oceania have been so brainwashed into believing that they are leading the fulfilling, happy and meaningful lives they desire; that if given actual freedom, they would not know how to react.

Their confinement and restriction become comfort, as their isolation and restraint become liberty". IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" In such a restricted, oppressive, decayed society, the less they know, the happier and stronger they feel. They accept the inverted and contradictory slogans, rules and ideas of the Party without opposition or internal torment. Unlike Winston Smith who because of his resistance, experiences sever physical and psychological torture". A Party member is expected to have no private emotions and no respites from enthusiasm.

He is supposed to live in a continues frenzy of hatred of foreign enemies and internal traitors, triumph over victories, and self- abasement before the power and wisdom of the Party". - Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty- Four. London: Penquin Books, 1990. p. 220 For Plato, belief (the basis of the Party's rule and control in Oceania) is the second to last mind state level or level of cognition (A-D), above only imagining (which according to Plato, was ignorance). The Republic Of Plato. London: Oxford University Press University Press, 1945. p 222 Although it is logically contradictory in nature to place Oceania on Plato's level of Belief which stands for common- sense, of the four levels, Belief is the most fitting to describe Oceania.

Because it's citizens do slightly more than imagining by believing and accepting whatever is fed to them by the Party, they definitely do not think for themselves, and most certainly do not have any definitive intelligence or actual knowledge. According to Plato, "The narrowing of the range of thought" in Nineteen Eighty Four, would definitely not be on a path to good because to him rational thought is of the utmost importance. If a people are forced to limit their thinking and subscribe to whatever they are presented, this would constitute ultimate ignorance. Plato's theory of Moral Absolutism is not possible without a strict sense of and ability to reason.

"The narrowing of the range of thought" will not only eliminate peoples power and ability to understand absolute ideas or concepts, but delete their ability to carry them out. The Party wants it's citizens unconscious, making Moral Absolutism completely impossible. "Orthodoxy is unconsciousness" Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought crime literally impossible, because there will be no words to express it... Every year fewer and fewer words, and the range of consciousness always a little smaller". - Orwell, George.

Nineteen Eighty- Four. London: Penquin Books, 1990. p. 55 In conclusion, it should be clear that although Platonic and Totalitarian Idealism (in Nineteen Eighty -Four) share the the view that ideas are omni-important and that the material world of things has no significance, the nature of their thought is of polar opposites. Where Plato based all his theories, ideas and true knowledge on rational thought, the Party based all it's ideas and laws on fabricated events, mental manipulation and brutal force.