The Argument of Imperfection

The Argument of Imperfection

Argument

The argument of imperfection (74-76) by Plato provides explanations of possessions of knowledge by human beings and the awareness of things in our surroundings. Plato bases his concept based on faultiness of practical matters and the ability of a human to make conclusions about the objects. The argument (Pheodo 74-76) reveals the idea of equality. Among the essential ideas in the philosophy developed by Plato is the purpose of forms (Mohr, 1984). The concept suggests that the importance of materials cannot be found in materials but their eternal, intelligible, and constant forms. The forms may have significant metaphysical implications; however, they can possess the epistemological nature as well.

Forms are not only the things that are real, but also they can be genuinely understood (Beer, 2018)—for example, witnessing a troop of the army led by a general in battle while facing vast artillery in action. An individual may conclude the event as courageous. The event may also be described as an act of courage. However, one may not term the event itself as courage. The action suggests an example of courage, but it is not courage. The act is named to be courageous because it possesses a form of courage. In the philosophy of Plato, he tries to explain the instances of events and actions but not to elaborate the sense of the activities through gaining knowledge of the form of nature through the motions of an individual. The philosophy is concurrently ethical, epistemological, and metaphysical. The doctrine provided by his concepts includes the three philosophical ideas.

Plato argues that we cannot figure out the idea of the equality nature of our sense-experiences in equal objects. Being unable to have the same equality is because people cannot perceive objects that are, correctly, equal and we have to possess equality concept of justice for us to make conclusions on things that we come across in the sense of perception for us to be roughly, incorrectly, equal (Mohr, 1984). For example, sensible objects can be perceived as X. However, practical objects are seen to be X as hey fall short of being classified as correctly X. We have to be aware of the imperfection that is in the perceived objects. So, the perception of objects is organized to be imperfectly X. For us to recognize things that are imperfectly X, we must know things that are correctly X. Therefore, there is the existence of perfectly X, and there is the existence of X itself, which is unique from other sensible objects.

The three elements (metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics) in the philosophy are significant in the development of the ideas presented by Plato (Sheffield & Warren, 2013). The ethics of every person determines how he or she lives, happiness, virtues, and the view of pleasure. The look of ethics in philosophy is bound to epistemology. Epistemology explains the process of acquiring knowledge. The topics included in the epistemology are knowledge, science, language, perception, belief, and logic. These elements are always directed to achieving an objective. Metaphysics involves h concern of answering specific questions (what exists?). The most crucial principle is an explanation of how thing exists. The notion implies that everything has some qualities and features.

Evaluation of the Arguments

The argument presented by Plato has two phases; establishment of the existence of supra-sensible forms and the establishment of cognitive contact in the prenatal period of life. The two aspects are separable. For some people who can be convinced that the idea reveals the existence of “priori” concepts can also be unconvinced about the idea of having a disembodied relationship with objects before birth. For the prenatal link, it is evident that philosophy has some flaws. The concept leaves an opportunity for the existence of equality. The ideas propose that the notion of knowledge is inborn and is wired in our intellects. The notion suggests that we acquire knowledge at birth (Beer, 2018). At birth, Plato suggests that we lose the ability to possess intelligence as we cannot use it at the time, and later we regain power. If we cannot use the knowledge at birth, it does not mean that we do not possess the knowledge. The argument does not take the possibility of possession of insight seriously. The idea does not prove that we are wired with the experience at birth, and also we do not possess it before delivery and initiate it in early childhood. By not taking care of rational ideas, this leads to the perception of the application of empiricism in philosophy. Plato argues that the notion of equality originates from familiarities with objects (Mohr, 984). The idea is the intangible experience of objects that are not physical, which has no definite proof. However, the concept of perfect equality is well explained. One needs to know one idea to understand the concept on the other side. For example, in morality, one has to develop an understanding of bad morals to develop good morals.

In his philosophy, Plato states, “For how would it be possible that I should know . . . that something is lacking in me, and that I am not quite perfect unless I had within me some idea of a Being more perfect than myself, in comparison with which I should recognize the deficiencies of my nature?” (Beer, 2018). The structure of this argument include; judging oneself to be imperfect, knowledge of lack of perfection, and having an idea on perfection. Socrates identifies that sensible equals are identified as having imperfections, and they strive to be like other people. The concept does not remind people of their knowledge but only to be like other people.

Socrates criticized the ideas of Plato in various ways. Socrates describes piety in the concept of forms as the form itself. Plato, in his idea, developed a theory that makes the readers view the form as an independent which has different characteristics as the empirical forms. Forms enable the objects to have structures that allow people to recognize them (Beer, 2018). The main question is how we can differentiate pious and impious objects.  Plato explains through describing the way actions are developed, and they are experienced in different ways through their various forms. Plato explains that virtue does not possess hierarchical structures. Plato explains no many forms of morality. Plato suggests that human being needs to prevent themselves from pleasures. However, he only provides one kind of virtue in his concept. The ideas described by Plato concerning forms do not give a rational argument by which the forms can be understood by reasoning and thinking alone. Plato explains various things, such as figures with reflections and images that can be processed through thinking.

The form can be seen by means of thinking. However, there is a difference between recognition and understanding of the forms that Plato does not provide rational understanding. Socrates gives a clear understanding of the implication of the argument. He states that “…although [students of geometry, calculation, and the like] use visible figures and make claims about [the first principles], their thought is not directed to them but to those other things that they are like” (Mohr, 1984). Plato denies the use of experience in the development of knowledge. Experiences are essential in the event of understanding. The past experiences of people influence learning. For example, being exposed to a managerial position for many years provides a person with a vast amount of knowledge about management. People with fewer experiences have little intellect compared to those with experience. The fact that Plato denies this concept, which makes his argument to be weak.

Solutions

The ideas developed by Plato reveals a clear relationship between epistemology and metaphysics. In support of the concepts of Plato, Socrates states that human beings cannot exist without forms. A soul that does not see the truth cannot assume the shape of a human being as there is a need to bring different perceptions into play to develop knowledge. The existence of a human being is null without various forms. Forms have been essential in every idea that has been developed by Plato. Structures determine the solution to expression and recognition of things that we do. One way of acquiring knowledge is through dialogs. For people to create different dialogs, forms have a significant influence on the process; therefore, it is imperative to understand various forms in understanding different concepts (Mohr, 1984). Without forms, people cannot be able to express experiences; thus people could not have developed knowledge and perceptions of various objects. Perceptions happen in the process of searching for understanding. The method of acquiring knowledge and perceiving things in our surroundings is not a novel process but a process of recollection because the insight is wired before birth.

The solution to imperfections is a vital thing o human beings. Human flaws have been branded various names, including finitude, immorality, untrustworthiness, violence, greed, among others. Some of the imperfections happen following our actions, and some are due to nature. Different philosophers have given human flaws attention. Plato suggests that the sensible world is not perfect as compared to the globe of forms (Beer, 2018). Plato’s sense of view provides solutions to imperfections via embracing the ways. Types can indeed be used to prevent faults in human beings. Embracing forms enhances the development of knowledge. When people develop understanding, the level of imperfections is decreased. Plato’s concept is based on working towards achieving divine perfection. Plato does not provide the idea of embracing imperfection.

In contrast to Plato, Martha Nussbaum provides the idea of embracing imperfections and working towards living a better life. For example, Plato states that “We are to love the persons so far, and only insofar, as they are good and beautiful. Now since all, too few human beings are masterworks of excellence, and not even the best of those we have the chance to love are wholly free of streaks of the ugly, the mean, the commonplace, the ridiculous, if our love for them is to be only for their virtue and beauty, the individual, in the uniqueness and integrity of this other individuality, will never be the object of our love” (Sheffield & Warren, 2013). According to the statement, Plato suggests that human beings have to be perfect, and we should consider relating to those people who are perfect. His beliefs on people being born with the knowledge to influence him to assume that everyone should perfect, and no one should accept his or her flaws. The issue affects most of the people who are in erotic relationships in the modern world, following the lack of allowing other people’s weaknesses. No one should think that he or she is better than another person as everyone has his or her flaws. Therefore, the solution provided by Plato on thriving towards perfection is not applicable.

Descartes suggests that Plato’s idea of forms is the same way people develop their first virtues and principle without relying on the sensory information. The ides indicate that the concept of structure is significant in developing morality, which offers solutions to imperfections. For example, the knowledge of God, which is described to be innate, influences people to have good morals and, in turn, solve their imperfections. The expertise offered by Plato is beyond experience, which makes his concept of knowledge to be impossible for understanding. Locke criticized the idea of Plato by stating that knowledge comes from experience (Beer, 2018). Experience is essential in providing solutions for imperfections by offering insight. For example, when a person has more encounters with law enforcers, he or she develops the experience of facing the law, which may help him to develop the knowledge on the implications of breaking the law, which will lead to a change of behaviors. The illustration provided by Locke is more easily understandable and applicable than the idea of Plato. The concepts provided by Plato is not well understood as it is beyond the physical nature of understanding.

In conclusion, the imperfection philosophy developed by Plato provides essential concepts that help to understand the human nature and process of acquiring knowledge and identification objects of sensory experience. However, some of the arguments tabled by Plato are weak. Various critics have shown that there exists endless regress of forms that explain other forms. There is no proof that we perceive forms due to previous experience with the forms. Therefore, it is possible the ideas were just developed in mind with no concrete evidence. The opinions of Plato provide various solutions that can be used; however, there are a lot of critics from other philosophers like Locke, who provides more reasonable solutions based on theory.

References

Beer, A. (2018). PLATO AND THE ROLE OF ARGUMENT – (T.) Irani Plato on the Value of Philosophy. The Art of Argument in the Gorgias and Phaedrus. Pp. xiv + 217. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017. Cased, £64.99, US$99.99. ISBN: 978-1-107-18198-4. The Classical Review, 68(2), 359-361. doi: 10.1017/s0009840x18000276

Mohr, R. (1984). The Divided and the Doctrine of Recollection in Plato. Apeiron, 18(1). doi: 10.1515/apeiron.1984.18.1.34

Sheffield, F., & Warren, J. (2013). Routledge Companion to Ancient Philosophy. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.