Question

This is a metaphysics question: Sartre argues against supernatural or otherworldly religious beliefs. For Sartre, there are only two givens: nature, and radical human freedom. The categories of being are well-defined, and the problem of the human condition is clear.

      Lucretius, too, argues against traditional religious belief. For Lucretius, we are given nature, and we are given the abilities to observe and reason and feel. Here, again, the problem is clearly defined.

      Both Sartre and Lucretius argue for a truth that is grounded in something other than gods and spirits. What should we say about Plato, then? Is he a naturalist, or a supernaturalist, or something else altogether? What would Plato’s response to Lucretius or Sartre be?

You need to have a thesis (stake a claim)--the more interesting, the better.

     You need to argue in favor of that claim.

     You need to provide evidential support for that argument.

Answer 1

Plato is the greatest philosopher of all time. He had been made a tremendous groundbreaking impact in BC's. His explanations are always magical, he is an excellent critic. Obviously, Plato is a supernaturalist. Although Socrates influenced Plato directly as related in the dialogues, the influence of Pythagoras upon Plato also appears to have the significant discussion in the philosophical literature. Pythagoras, or in a broader sense, the Pythagoreans, allegedly exercised an important influence on the work of Plato. According to R. M. Hare, this influence consists of three points: The platonic Republic might be related to the idea of "a tightly organized community of like-minded thinkers", like the one established by Pythagoras in Croton.

Plato, in general, distinguished between three types of myth. First, there were the false myths, like those based on stories of gods subject to passions and sufferings, because reason teaches that God is perfect. Then came the myths based on true reasoning, and therefore also true. Finally, there were those non-verifiable because beyond of human reason, but containing some truth in them. Regarding the subjects of Plato's myths, they are of two types, those dealing with the origin of the universe, and those about morals and the origin and fate of the soul.

It is generally agreed that the main purpose for Plato in using myths was didactic. He considered that only a few people were capable of or interested in following a reasoned philosophical discourse, but men, in general, are attracted by stories and tales. Consequently, then, he used the myth to convey the conclusions of the philosophical reasoning. Some of Plato's myths were based in traditional ones, others were modifications of them, and finally, he also invented altogether new myths.

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