Ali Hassanzade; Muhammad Asghari
Abstract
In the present article we try to examine the relationship between Plato's theory of Ideas and his political and ethical thoughts. First, we present an outline of the genesis of ...
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In the present article we try to examine the relationship between Plato's theory of Ideas and his political and ethical thoughts. First, we present an outline of the genesis of theory of Ideas in "Meno", "Phaedo", and "Republic". Then, we go on to examine Plato's political and ethical thoughts in "Apology", "Protagoras", "Gorgias" and again "Republic". The study results in the conclusion that Plato's "cave allegory" is the climax of both his theory of Ideas and his politico-ethical thoughts. A close reading of "cave allegory" and comparing of its main ideas with the crucial problems of "Protagoras" and "Gorgias" reveals the politico-ethical character of theory of Ideas. Contrary to the sophists who think they are the locus of Truth, Socrates only keeps open the abyss of truth and makes the student turn around it. In "The Symposium", Alcibiades calls this "madness of philosophy". At the end, we try to provide a possible answer to Nietzsche's and Popper's reproaches to Plato and show that there may be a possible immanent reading of Plato's theory of Ideas.
