Assess the contribution and achievement of Plato as a critic. Plato was the first philosopher-scholar who gave a formal and systematic shape to criticism. It is believed that he started his career as a poet but soon after his meeting with Socrates‚ he destroyed his poems and dramas and began to take active interest in philosophy and politics. But he was not a professed critic of literature and his critical observations are not embodied in any single work. His chief ideas are contained in the Dialogues
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Relativism Relativism is the philosophical position that all points of view are equally valid and that all truth is relative to the individual. Under the umbrella of relativism‚ there are many different groups‚ like cognitive‚ moral‚ and situational relativism. In moral/ethical relativism it amounts to saying that all moralities are equally good. In cognitive relativism it implies that all beliefs‚ or belief systems‚ are equally true. This essay will refute relativism‚ and its basic premise.
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Moral relativism is one’s perception of what is acknowledged to be morally just or unjust depending on accepted demeanor. Certain behaviors and manners that a specific culture may consider to be acceptable‚ another culture may consider to be unethical. In such an instance‚ neither one of the cultures would be incorrect. Morals are culturally defined in that it originates from the root as to what is considered socially acceptable. In Mary Midgley’s “Trying out one’s new sword”‚ she argues that moral
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Ethical Relativism: the Hands-off Theory Ethical relativism is a simple concept. It is defined as the idea that ethical values are relative to the culture in which they are found. As exemplified in Hinman’s Ethics‚ a businessman in different parts of the world may use a bribe in order to reach an agreement with an associate‚ whereas in America‚ bribes are frowned upon and often illegal. The ethical value‚ bribing‚ is used differently between an American and a foreign businessman. But is there
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In an analysis of Plato’s Euthyphro‚ Peter Geach claims that Socrates commits the Socratic fallacy when he refuses Euthyphro’s first definition of piety. Socrates rejects the definition given because it does not give a formal definition of what piety is‚ but instead offers examples of things and actions that are pious. Geach believes that this is a substantial fallacy committed by Socrates‚ one that may prevent him from getting at the truth of the matter. I will first expand on Geach’s Socratic fallacy
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In Plato’s Euthyphro‚ Socrates questions Euthyphro‚ a religious expert‚ who he runs into outside of a courthouse in Athens. Socrates was being indicted on the charges of corrupting the youth‚ and Euthyphro was prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates was bewildered as to why Euthyphro would indict his own blood of a crime. In an attempt to explain to Socrates why it was the right thing to do‚ Euthyphro proclaims that he is acting piously by taking his father to court. Euthyphro adds that his
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Cultural relativism holds that there is no universal morality that is common among all cultures. Specifically‚ in an article on cultural relativism James Rachels states the following characteristics of cultural relativism: 1) Different societies have different moral codes; 2) There is no objective standard that can be used to judge one societal code better than another; 3) The moral code of our own society has no special status; it is merely one among many; 4) There is no "universal truth"
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Even today‚ people admire the ideas of Socrates‚ Plato‚ and Aristotle. Their teachings are at the root of modern philosophy and science. Alfred Whitehead is quoted as saying: “The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.” If you really know how to read Plato‚ the truth behind this statement is easy to see. Nearly every great philosophical idea was discussed by Plato to some extent. The best way to put it is the way
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Euthyphro Conversations between Socrates and Euthyphro can often times be difficult to follow and understand however‚ with careful reading and critical analyzing‚ much can be gained and inferred. This can be seen in the many great and intellectual conversations that were had in class last week. A combination of my own interpretations as well as those of my peers allowed for the whole class to gain a deeper understanding of this reading. As a brief overview‚ we were able to discuss the difference
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Biography of Plato. Plato was a Greek philosopher‚ mathematician‚ rhetorician‚ writer‚ founder of Academy‚ and even a double Olympic champion. He was born in 427 BCE in family of wealthy and influential Athenian parents: Ariston and Perictione. Plato ’s real name was Aristocles. For his athletic figure his wrestling coach called him Plato‚ which means “broad”. As Plato was from a wealthy family‚ he got the best teachers of that time‚ who taught him music‚ grammar and athletics. At the age
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