The following passage from Eudemian Ethics (1235b 13-18) allows us to better comprehend Aristotle’s impression of philosophy, which in turn leads to a better understanding of how he reviews and resolves the aforementioned problem: We must adopt a line of argument which will both best explain to us the views held about these matters and will resolve the difficulties and contradictions; and we shall achieve this if we show that the conflicting views are held with good reason. For such an argument will most closely accord with the agreed facts; and it will allow the conflicting views to be retained if analysis can show that each is partly true and partly false. Ultimately, Aristotle tries to “preserve obvious truths of common sense” while attempting to justify what we see in philosophers paradoxes. To discredit them, he separates the discreditable conclusions from the authentic notions they were built upon, thus disarming the effectiveness of the arguments. The first and most obvious place to look for Aristotle’s view on relativism is Metaphysics I’.
The shadows create a false image of reality, causing the prisoners to have a distorted perception of life. When one of the prisoners escapes, he discovers the true essence of the world in its natural state. Upon full analysis of the purpose of Plato’s Allegory, we recognize that mankind learns by reason, and not the senses. The acquisition of knowledge comes from rationalism, as we learn from logical
However, the prisoner in Plato’s story after gaining this new knowledge let others in bondage know of his new found knowledge but felt that the first truth was easier to except. On the other hand Neo in The Matrix decided he wanted to learn what the real truth was. Both characters were interested in find out the truth but they accepted the truth differently. Plato thought it was necessary for the chained man in the Allegory of the Cave needed to escape from the cave to seek the truth. However, Descartes, in Meditations I raises the question how could he know with certainty that the world he lived in wasn’t an illusion forced upon him by a demon.
The 3 Waves of Doubt and the Simulation Argument Descate started questioning the foundations of our beliefs in order to see if they are immune from doubt. Instead of assorting things one by one, he decided to form groups and only then assort the groups. He did this by finding a base of some things and putting them together. Descartes starts the first argument by attacking the very basis of his beliefs, human senses. People learn their beliefs through their external and internal senses.
Skepticism makes a person questions ideas toward multiple things such as knowledge or opinions that are stated as if it is true like facts. Rene Descartes argument for skepticism is to not believe every doubt that you give yourself. In his words "withstand all doubt because the evidence of our senses sometimes misleads us, it does not provide a secure basis for knowledge. We cannot be certain that we are awake and not dreaming." His argument can be argued because people have senses that can guide them to doubt themselves by the way people talk to them or other people actions.
Question why! In Plato’s allegory it is stated how “ridiculous” for one to take a decisive stand on an action or issue, without first “enlightening” or fully educating himself on the matter. (Plato 517) Take advantage of the Information available, enlighten yourself, make a decision based on the knowledge acquired. Become your own liberator. Had the prisoners in Plato’s allegory asked themselves ‘why am I imprisoned’, or by another questioned, “Why have you accepted such a fate?” might they have responded “why indeed,” curiosity aroused, would not a search for truth commence?
And still, some may also see the crime as just or unjust, and not everyone will have the same opinion about the matter (8). Socrates then restates his earlier question as to how Euthyphro can still prove that proceeding against his father could be seen as just in the eyes of all the gods (8). Because of these statements, it is much harder to tell if it would be at all possible to prove Euthyphro's side of things. Though it would seem that he is getting closer to proving his own beliefs since it is his job to prosecute the wrong-doer, Socrates still wants him to understand the morals behind his
One famous philosopher is Socrates. He believed that all knowledge was found within (Document 1). “The unexamined life is not worth living.” By this quote he means if one reasons and learns she or she is more likely to have a better life and be more cautious with decisions. On the other hand, the Socrates Method was created by Socrates. In this method, it used a question-and-answer format to lead pupils to see things for themselves by using their own reasons.
You can only have so much blind faith, and the idea that your entire life isn’t real, is such a radical concept that would be too hard to swallow without experiencing it for your own. Another similarity between The Allegory of the Cave and The Matrix, would be the need for a mentor. In the Allegory we have Socrates, who urges one to discover and learn freely, see things not as they are but for their possibilities. I see Morpheus as that kind of pedagogical teacher, he pushes Neo towards self understanding using the same kind of method as Socrates. Not telling the student the answers, but letting their minds ponder and
John Smith Mr. Jones Sociology 212 3 May 2012 Disenchanted The Politics of Experience is collection of theories and ideas about experience, behavior, and sanity. The book is sometimes abstract, mostly controversial, and always bold and thought provoking. Dr. Laing goes to great lengths to prove that not only is the scientific method incapable of measuring the human experience, but our views on normalcy and order within society are both violent and destructive; that normalcy is in fact, insanity. In this world, we are groomed into beings that are increasingly led to believe in the material, or external world. Forsaken are thoughts of imagination, fantasy, and freedom.