Preview

Pythagoras & Protagoras

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
899 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pythagoras & Protagoras
Thesis Statement
Protagoras denies a perfect form for all things, while Pythagoras clearly presents the better case with harmonia. Pythagoras, known as “the father of numbers” through his Pythagorean Theorem is regarded as the first to seek for the form of all things . From Protagoras’s perspective, named as one of the “Sophists” by Plato, there would probably be no exact form for anything. Without an understanding of a true source from which all form flows with, we eliminate all possibility of discovering the greater truth form carries with it. Pythagoras on the other hand deeply searches for a reason for the cosmos in every function of life, and that, carries a significant purpose for form. Mathematical formulas and ratios, Pythagoras claimed were at the very center of the physical world through which the form of matter could be explained. The Pythagorean perspective stresses that number is universal, "the principle, source, and root of all things" . The formula of the Tetras in which the number 10 is held as the nature of a number can be seen by far as the most solid argument for the form of all things. All four numbers which include one, two, three, and four when added come to equal ten, thus reflecting the essential source of nature and reality together, in which all the cosmos are arranged according to harmonia. Harmonia consists of a melodic framework of three chords where the ratio of the octave is 1:2, the fifth 2:3, and the fourth 3:4 . This phenomenon represents perfect proportionality to the universe by means of form. Now each chord retains its individual identity, but all are still proportionally connected together to form a larger musical scale, thus all three chords needing to be interdependent of one another. Like an ecosystem that works together with its given environment, it most importantly has to function as a unit, via symbiotic relationships . You see, our society works in a similar way as well by functioning as a whole. The



Bibliography: Baird, F. E. (2003). Ancient Philosophy 4th Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. James Fieser, P. (2007, Sept. 20). The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2007, from http://www.iep.utm.edu/ Luce, J.V. An Introduction to Greek Philosophy. London: Thames and Hudson Inc., 1992.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Plato developed the theory that behind every concept or object in the visible world there is an unseen reality which he calls its ‘Form’. These Forms exist in the world of the Forms separate from our world of sensory perception. Within the world of the Forms the pattern or the objects and concepts for the material world exist in a state of unchanging perfection. Plato suggested the idea of forms in his book “De Republica”, which is a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucon, and the idea of dualism. Plato suggested that there are two worlds (dualism) we live in one of sensory perception and the true forms live in one of rational knowledge.…

    • 871 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The theory of the Forms suggests that there are two worlds in which we live, one is through reality (world of Forms), whilst the other is accessed through our minds (world of Particulars). He highlights that there is only one of each Form while there are many copies of that Form, however, they all share common factors to the Form allowing them to be recognised and compared to. Plato describes the Forms to be perfect, eternal and un-changing whereas the Particulars are imperfect, finite and changing. This can be related to Plato’s conflicting ideas about education in his era, as he believes that the world of Particulars is based on opinion rather than knowledge and so does not approve of this world- the theory of the Forms and the Form of the Good allowed him to express these views showing how the Forms portray the creation of a better, conceptual world. Additionally, Plato describes the Forms to be intelligible, rational and non-corporal which means that his world of Forms cannot be accessed physically and so disproved. This therefore shows the Particulars to be material and corruptible which became a strong ground for us to relate to his theory as the imperfection and continuously changing world…

    • 994 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    When Plato and other prominent philosophers such as Plutarch and Heraclitus were observing the world, they came to the conclusion that it was in a state of flux; they came to the conclusion that it was constantly changing. Plato wrote a number of texts including Phaedo and Republic; this worked with his dualistic approach concluding that our realm of appearances – or our world; and all within is changeable and will eventually cease to exist. He says that this world is nothing but a mere copy of forms, and the forms are described as the eternal and perfect idea of what a thing is. The world of the forms, to Plato is the only realm where true knowledge lies, Plato defined this as the realm of reality; this could in fact be trusted unlike our own world. There are a few reasons to Plato as to why The Forms exist, and these reasons are present through his work for example through The Theory of Recollection, and The Imperfection Argument. But several philosophers have critiqued Plato’s notion and they argued Plato’s arguments are actually just reasons for why forms should exist; rather than actual proof of the existence. Furthermore, The Third Man Argument in Plato’s ‘Parmenides’ brings a prominent problem for the theory of The Forms. For example, Russell called it ‘One…

    • 2371 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Plato’s theory of forms proposes that all sensory objects are imitations of Forms, which, like the simplest mathematical equations, are imperishable and forever true.” (Fiero I: 98)…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hup 102 Short Paper #2

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In this paper I will be discussing the view on the forms, of both Plato and Aristotle. For starts, Plato’s views on the Forms are basically describing the true meaning about material objects in the world. Like for example viewing a desk in a class room, should be looked at as more than just what we see, but thousands of atoms put together to make it look like a desk or something like that. His idea of an object was defined by what we might think something is it’s basically a form of something else. He said that we could be sitting on a chair but its quality is of an object which form is that of a chair. This idea of the form by Plato exists in a heavenly realm that could be understood by the mind. Plato’s views on the forms were aspects of everyday life, anything from a table to a bench As well as ideas and emotions. The essence of Plato's theory of Ideas Forms lay in the conscious recognition of the fact that there is a class of entities, in which the best name is probably universal, that are entirely different from sensible things, which is interesting. Plato's theory of Forms assumed that Forms are universal and exist as substances. On the other hand, Aristotle firmly disagrees with the idea of Forms being universal.…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Forms give us knowledge and allow us to have some understanding of the truth. Although, we know that we do not know them fully as we can form our own opinions on things, e.g. what is beautiful and what is not. Forms are in the Realm of the Forms, we can recognise them as this is where our soul originates from, however because they come from there and not from…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plato looked for a universal reality, or concept that made an object what it was. For example, a pizza is round. The roundness was an eternal concept . The physical pizza being round was temporary, it would not always be round. If you ate a slice it would no longer be round or if you dropped it and the slices became disorganized, it would no longer be round. But the sponsoring concept of round would always be round. The concept was eternal. It was a form and forms never change. Physical objects were a crude and inadequate representation of their form. To Plato, to understand his theory of forms one must transcend the physical world by going beyond the senses to get to a higher reality where true concepts existed. In this higher reality, roundness (truth) is unchanging. When one reaches this true reality, one then has knowledge and wisdom. He felt that very few people were willing or able to transcend to this higher reality because the human condition was a trap that distracted the mind from truth. He theorized that forms were eternal and one must have forms to gain knowledge and to do that you must disengage from this world to discover an objects form.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pythagoras considered himself a philosopher, not a mathematician, for which he is widely known. His teachings taught of a belief in a cycle of rebirth. He believed that souls could be reborn into animals, but no signs have pointed to a belief that humans could be reborn into plants. To escape this cycle, one was encouraged to live to high moral standards. For as much as he claimed himself a philosopher though, he largely based the life of his followers around mathematics. Followers of his swore oaths based on the sum of ( 1+2+3+4) . He is remembered most nowadays for the Pythagorean Theorem, the idea that the square…

    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Prince, Brian D. "The Form of Soul in the Phaedo." PLATO, The electronic Journal of the International Plato Society (2011. ): 1-3. Accessed 23 August 2013.…

    • 1887 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Humans have access to the realm of forms through the mind, through reason, given Plato's theory of the subdivisions of the human soul. This gives them access to an unchanging world, invulnerable to the pains and changes of the material world. By detaching ourselves from the material world and our bodies and developing our ability to concern ourselves with the forms, we find a value which is not open to change or…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Wilhelm Wundt

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages

    3)Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt. (2006). In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Web]. Stanford, CA: The Metaphysics Research Lab. Retrieved Nov 25, 2008, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/wilhelm-wundt/…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Exam Two Review

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages

    * In our everyday world of the sense we experience only imperfect examples of, or “participants” in, these “forms” but through careful study, reflection and reasoning, we can begin to apprehend the true and eternal nature of the forms…

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Plato was from the time of approximately 400BC and stated that the human body with all its parts must owe it’s origin to a creator. Plato was a Pagan and believed in numerous Greek gods. In his work The Timaeus he suggests that a cosmic craftsman (‘the Demiurge’) may have brought together the materials of the universe to make it orderly and beautiful. Plato’s theory of forms (or ideas) lies at the heart of his philosophy. It follows on directly from his allegory of the cave and understanding reality. This theory suggests that a realm of forms exist, perfect ideals of which things in this world are but imperfect. The world that we see around us, according to this theory, is but a pale shadow of the ultimate reality. Things may appear beautiful, or just, insofar as they imitate the form of Beauty and Justice. But the imperfect and changeable world cannot capture the glory of the eternal and immutable…

    • 1606 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    To what extent is it true to say that the forms teach us nothing about the physical world? (15 marks)…

    • 745 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The thing that Pythagoras is probably the most famous for is the Pythagorean Theorem. The Pythagorean Theorem is used in the field of mathematics and it states the following: the square of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the two other sides. This means that if one makes a square (with all sides equal in length) out of a triangle with a right angle, the areas of the squares made from the two shorter sides, when added together, equal the area of the square made from the long side. Another geometrical discovery made by Pythagoras is that the diagonal of a square is not a rational multiple of its side. The latter discovery proved the existence of irrational numbers and therefore changed the entire Greek mathematical belief that whole numbers and their ratios could account for geometrical properties. He also discovered a formula to find out how many degrees there are in a polygon. Pythagoras came up with (n-2)180°= the number of degrees in a polygon, where (n) represents the number of sides in the polygon. For example, a triangle has three sides, 3-2=1, 1x180=180, which is the total sum of all the inner angles of a triangle. Along with that he found out that the sum of all the outer angles of a polygon is always equal to three hundred sixty degrees. This is true for every single polygon, regardless of the number of the sides.…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays