Plato Vs Buddhism Essay
Throughout history, there has been a variety of opinions and theories regarding the body and the soul. The two most common known philosophies regarding the body and the soul are Plato’s theories and Buddhism. Each have their own ways of viewing how the body and the soul connect to each other and how they function during a life. Buddhism, an old eastern religion that believes in no monotheistic creator and reincarnation. Buddhist’s also have their own notion that creates a connection between the soul and the body. Despite the differences between the two philosophies, I will argue that there are greater similarities between Plato’s and Buddhism’s notions of the soul. Throughout this essay, the ideas of parallel interpretations of the soul, individual
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He believes that our bodies are material. And eventually, they will die. He says “Who were the dead, for Plato? They were souls who had been released from their temporary embodiment.” Meaning that he believes that humans should welcome death as it liberates the soul from being trapped within the body. If a person lives a good life with contemplation, after they die the soul will go to a “perfect universe” and will stay there until a baby is born. Plato believes these new transferred souls are full of knowledge but are limited by their new body because a baby must grow up and re-learn the abilities that the soul already knows. This is the reason why Plato believes that the soul is “better off” after the body has died.
Lastly, I am going to look at Plato’s view of dualism Plato believes in the connection between the body and the mind which is referred to as dualism. “Plato believed that the true substances are not physical bodies, which are ephemeral, but the eternal Forms of which bodies are imperfect copies.” (Dualism Stanford). This means that it is what is inside of us that makes us who we are which is the mind. It is hard to explain Plato’s dualistic views because it is described on a metaphysical level. Plato does not specify how the soul binds with the body but believes there is a strong continuity between the
He believes that our bodies are material. And eventually, they will die. He says “Who were the dead, for Plato? They were souls who had been released from their temporary embodiment.” Meaning that he believes that humans should welcome death as it liberates the soul from being trapped within the body. If a person lives a good life with contemplation, after they die the soul will go to a “perfect universe” and will stay there until a baby is born. Plato believes these new transferred souls are full of knowledge but are limited by their new body because a baby must grow up and re-learn the abilities that the soul already knows. This is the reason why Plato believes that the soul is “better off” after the body has died.
Lastly, I am going to look at Plato’s view of dualism Plato believes in the connection between the body and the mind which is referred to as dualism. “Plato believed that the true substances are not physical bodies, which are ephemeral, but the eternal Forms of which bodies are imperfect copies.” (Dualism Stanford). This means that it is what is inside of us that makes us who we are which is the mind. It is hard to explain Plato’s dualistic views because it is described on a metaphysical level. Plato does not specify how the soul binds with the body but believes there is a strong continuity between the