Plato's Theory of Ideas 3501-PTI19-S
Plato’s theory of ideas is one of the most famous and most influential theories in the history of philosophy. His thesis that above the changeable world of material things there is a realm of true being consisting of eternal and unchangeable Forms (or Ideas) has been the object of heated debates among scholars through the entire history of Western philosophy. During the seminar we will discuss Plato’s arguments for the Ideas (i. a. in the Phaedrus, Timaeus), the modifications introduced in the later dialogues (The Sophist, Parmenides, Philebus, 7th Letter), and the objections formulated by critics, especially Aristotle (in the Metaphysics, bk. I and XIII, on in the treatise On Ideas). We will also have a look at the way in which the theory if ideas has been reformulated by the Neoplatonists.
In Plato's works, the theory of ideas is almost omnipresent: it makes its appearance in the early dialogues and in the middle and late dialogues it becomes the central theme of Plato’s philosophy. According to the famous description by Aristotle in the Metaphysics (books I and XII), the theory of ideas is the innovative element that distinguishes Plato from his teacher Socrates. The theory has become the crucial part of Plato’s philosophy and in all later versions of Platonism it is one of the most important components (Plotinus, Neoplatonism of late antiquity, medieval Platonism).
During our seminar we will read fragments of texts from various periods of Plato's work. We will read several texts from the middle period (Phaedrus, Timeus, Republic), but our main interest will be to analyze the reformulation of the theory of ideas in the late dialogues (Parmenides, the Sophist, Philebus, Theaetetus). The second topic will be arguments for the theory of ideas presented in the writings of Aristotle and Aristotle's answers to these arguments (especially in the Metaphysics and fragments of the treatise De Ideis). The third topic of the seminar will be devoted to Neoplatonic texts dealing with the theory of ideas (Plotinus, Syrianus, Proclus); we will be interested in particular in the question what counterarguments the Neoplatonists have presented against Aristotle's objections and how did they modify the theory of ideas in light of the difficulties presented in Plato's Parmenides.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
- the student has basic knowledge about main directions of development and new interpretations in the research on Plato’s theory of Ideas
- knows basic research methods typically used in the area of history of philosophy
- knows the principles of working out interpretations of philosophical texts
Skills:
- is able to read, understand and compare different philosophical texts
- is able to listen and understand oral presentations of philosophical ideas and arguments and is able to prepare his/her own presentations
- is able to analyze the logical structure of the argument presented by other participants of the seminar and is able to assess the possible influence of logical mistakes on the validity of the conclusions (2nd degree of studies)
- is able to choose suitable argumentative strategies, present objections and formulate arguments in favour of his/her own position
- is able to conduct research on a basic (1st degree) or advanced (2nd and 3rd degree) level under the guidance of the teacher
Social competence:
- without the help of the teacher sets up and carries out simple research tasks
- basing on the assessment of the problems and situations he/she is facing is able to find solutions without the help of the teacher
- is open to discussion and new solutions of the presented problems
- is able to cooperate within a group, assuming different roles within the group
Assessment criteria
- attendance in accordance with the specified limit of absences
- reading the discussed texts before the class takes place
- taking part in the discussions in class
- one seminar presentation or one seminar essay
Bibliography
Plato (fragments), Phaedrus, Sophist, Philebus, Timeaeus, Parmenides, (tr. by W. Witwicki)
Aristotle (fragments), Metaphysics (bk. I, V i XIII), tr. by T. Żeleźnik, M. Krąpiec, A. Maryniarczyk
Syrianus, On Aristotle’s Metaphysics 13-14, tr. J. Dillon, D. O’Meara, London 2006.
Proclus, Commentary on Plato’s Parmenides, tr. J. Dillon, G. Morrow, Princeton 1992.
H. Cherniss, Aristotle’s Criticism of Plato and the Academy, Baltimore 1944.
B. Dembiński, Teoria idei. Ewolucja myśli platońskiej, Katowice 1999 (II wydanie).
G. Fine, On Ideas. Aristotle’s Criticism of Plato’s Theory of Forms, Oxford 1993.
W.K.C. Guthrie, History of Ancient Greek Philosophy: vol. IV, Plato – the Man and his Dialogues. The Early Period, Cambridge 1975.
W.K.C. Guthrie, History of Ancient Greek Philosophy: vol. V, The Later Plato and the Academy, Cambridge 1978.
W.D. Ross, Plato’s Theory of Ideas, Oxford 1951.
A. Silverman, The Dialectic of Essence. A Study of Plato’s Metaphysics, Princeton University Press, Princeton 2002.
W. Stróżewski, Wykłady o Platonie. Ontologia, Kraków 1992.
Additional information
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