University of Zanjan Philosophical Meditations 2228-5253 14 32 2024 08 22 Madness of Philosophy: Plato's Theory of Ideas and its Relationship with his Ethical and Political Thoughts Madness of Philosophy: Plato's Theory of Ideas and its Relationship with his Ethical and Political Thoughts 11 41 701415 10.30470/phm.2023.551569.2198 FA Ali Hassanzade PHD Student, Department of Philosophy, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran 0000-0002-9740-6060 Muhammad Asghari Professor, Department of Philosophy, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran 0000-0003-3874-4702 Journal Article 2022 04 08 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. 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. https://phm.znu.ac.ir/article_701415_326d59fec4cf1d6d17e8d7595f5ca901.pdf