Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, Augustine

Study Notes

Socrates

Believed in the importance of self-knowledge, stating that an "unexamined self is not worth living."
Argued that the human being is dualistic, composed of body and soul.
Emphasized the soul as perfect and permanent, while the body is imperfect and impermanent.

Plato

Extended the idea of a dual nature, adding three components to the soul: the rational soul, the spirited soul, and the appetitive soul.
Advocated for justice as a result of harmonious synergy between these three components.
Identified the rational soul as governing reason and intellect; the spirited soul managing emotions; and the appetitive soul controlling base desires.

Augustine

Influenced by Socrates and Plato, infused Christian doctrine into his understanding of the human being.
Agreed with the bifurcated nature of man, with one aspect dwelling in the imperfect world and yearning for the divine, and another capable of achieving immortality.
Famously stated, "My soul is restless until it rests in you."

Thomas Aquinas

A prominent 13th-century scholar, considered a mainstay of medieval philosophy.
Followed Augustine's Christian approach in describing the human being as composed of matter and form.
Defined matter ("hyle" in Greek) as the common material that makes up the universe, and form ("morphe") as the essence of a substance, differentiating humans from other animals through the soul that animates the body.

Descartes

Considered the father of modern philosophy, conceptualized the human person as having a body and mind.
Championed doubting everything except the existence of the self, as doubting itself proves the existence of a doubting entity, a thinking thing.
Famous for his statement, "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am").
Believed the self is a combination of the "cogito" (thinking mind) and the "extensa" (extension of the mind, the body), viewed the body simply as a machine attached to the mind.

Hume

A Scottish philosopher, offered a unique perspective on the human being.
An empiricist, arguing that knowledge stems solely from senses and experiences.
Identified the self as a "bundle of impressions," with impressions being vivid, direct experiences, and ideas as less vivid copies of impressions.
Hume argued that humans have a desire to believe in a unified, coherent self, such as a soul or mind, even though empirical evidence does not support such a notion.

Kant

Considered Hume's account of the self as merely impressions problematic, arguing that perception involves an organizing principle before sensory data is infused into the human being.
Proposed an active intelligence within the human mind that synthesizes knowledge and experiences, suggesting a more active role for the mind in cognition.

Ryle

Resolved the mind-body dichotomy by dismissing the concept of an inner, non-physical self.
Argued that behavior is the defining characteristic of a person, stating that the "self" is simply a convenient label for observable actions.

Merleau-Ponty

Proposed that the mind and body are intertwined and inseparable, claiming all experience is embodied.
Rejected dualism, viewing it as a misunderstanding, emphasizing the body as the gateway to existence and interaction with the world.

Description

Explore the beliefs of three foundational philosophers: Socrates, Plato, and Augustine. This quiz delves into their views on the nature of the soul, the concept of self-knowledge, and the intertwining of philosophy and Christianity. Test your understanding of their significant contributions to philosophy and ethics.