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One Greek philosopher, Parmenides posits that to think is the same as to be and that knowledge is certainty. Like Descartes, Parmendies believes that to know is to know with certainty. However, Descartes' method of attaining knowledge is through doubt, whereas Parmendies' manner is through identifying with the circumstance. One can associate Parmendies' definition of knowledge as being eternal, unchanging, single, and homogeneous. Parmendies lays out the two requirements for achieving knowledge both which involve the psyche. The first requirement is that one cannot be completely certain of knowledge obtained through the senses because the things that one senses are constantly changing.
Moreover, the idea that the senses are in a states of flux concurs with his notion of knowledge is unchangeable. His second necessity is that since senses give relativism then sense perception will always be changing. Parmendies also claims that the only world that truly exists is the world that occurs. Present in his theories are two realms, the Realm of Nous (Greek), which can be translated into English as reality or knowledge and the Realm of Soma which is Greek for appearances. Characteristics existent in the Realm of Reality are changeless, immutable, individual, homogeneous, and singular. On the contrary, in the Realm of Appearance are factors that are plural, heterogeneous, and changeable.
When Parmendies exists and is in being, he is in the Realm of Reality, also referred to as the Realm of Knowledge. In addition, the only thing he is certain of is in his mind or psyche. Therefore, Parmendies definition is only applied in the Realm of the Mind. Protagoras, a Greek philosopher and the father of relativism, criticizes Parmenides by altering his definition of knowledge. Protagoras alleges that because everything in the world changes, Parmenides definition of knowledge is inaccurate. He also believes that both the Realm of Reality and the Realm of Appearance should be included in identifying knowledge.
His objective is to demonstrate that things that shift over time have individuality, plurality, and complexity. According to Protagoras, "knowledge is completeness. " Moreover, he posits that the Cosmos is rational and intelligible. As well, each individual has his or her own lobos and cosmos. Thus, his philosophy is summed up in the statement: "Man is the measure of all things. " Man is the measure of things that exist and things that do not exist. However, there are consequences to Protagoras' theories. Since each person has a different lobos of the world, he or she has a distinct understanding of the cosmos.
Protagoras is incapable of answering the question of why human's cannot know the truth of cosmos. Socrates detects Protagoras' error in his definition of knowledge. He claims that the only method to disagree is via a universal truth. Socrates asserts that to understand the entities of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in the cosmos one must have unity with them.
He wants to challenge the unknown. He attempts to give an efficient account that incorporates not only Protagoras' disapproval to the Cosmos' views but also his belief that "Man is the measure of all things. " Unlike Protagoras' conception that each being has his or her own cosmos, Socrates puts forth that there is only one cosmos and every person inside that cosmos is inferior. For the cosmos, good is a source of intelligible light. Without good providing light for them, people would be unable to see Forms of the world and the truth in mathematics. If there is a lack of intelligible light in the world, the psyche does not have the ability to know the elements. As a psyche, I have already learned of the cosmos and their definition of the Greek world.
Although as a psyche, which is a soul and mind, I have still not been educated of the good of the cosmos. My education of the good of the cosmos is through the sun analogy. This analogy can be better known as the Analogy between the Physical and Metaphysical. The physical aspect of the analogy is represented through the sun and known as the Realm of the Sensible.
Respectively present in this realm are objects of belief (visible light), the eye (sense perception), sunlight, and the sun (only if sunlight is required). On the contrary is the Realm of the Intelligible, which is based beyond the physical appearance (metaphysical). This realm represents the good. Exhibited in this region are objects of knowledge, the intellect (nous), truth, beauty, and The Good respectively.
However, the Good is revealed in the Divided Line. As a psyche, I already know about The Good. However, the Divided Line clearly illustrates The Good greater in depth. First, the Divided Line consists of two parts, the left, and the right side.
The left side represents the entities that I experience. The right side exhibits the functions which I perform. In the beginning, I am in a state of ignorance like Descartes' is in quest for truth and knowledge. The AB stage of this line is my origin. In this stage, my imagination sees images and shadows. These images are internal copies of external copies of external originals.
However, light is lacking in this stage. This Realm of the Imagination is very confidential. This stage is considered sensible. One in the sensible level can be known as a lover of sight. In the Realm of the Sensible, which are the stages below the divided line, an individual only has opinions.
Opinion is based on only what is and what is not. Knowledge based on facts is not present in the AB to BC. Every incident in this stage occurs in the Realm of the Mind. This stage responds to Protagoras' that enables his view to have some foundation in the cosmos. However, his idea is not the essential basis of cosmos. Based on Parmenides' idea of knowledge only particular knowledge can happen.
As a psyche, I realize emptiness. Thus, I must advance to the next stage. In the BC stage, I go from the private realm to the public realm. Things become clearer to me in this stage through my eyes, which can also be referred to as soma.
The things in the world are the entities, which are present in this stage. Nevertheless, these entities occur in the public realm but in the Realm of Time. Lastly, the bottom half of the divided line which consists of the AB and a BC stage is a Realm of Plurality and Individuality. This lower part is temporal. In Plato's stages of the Divided Line as the stages increase the more individuality the mind loses. I have now crossed The Divided Line.
Beyond the divided line, the stages are eternal. I am now on an intelligible level rather than a sensible one. Since I am now in the Realm of the Intelligible, I have knowledge rather than opinion. I am on a level of what is knowable and what is not knowable. One who is on the intelligible level is considered as a lover of knowledge. I am now in the CD stage, the realm of mathematics.
I am now longer capable of sight through the soma instead through my eyes of nous. The truth of math is found in axioms, which are hypotheses, which can not be justified for. Being a psyche in this level, I have my initial experience with the entities. These entities are not private and are not changeable.
However, since I can not locate an account for axiom, I must proceed to the next stage. I have now progressed to the DE stage, which only allows me to see universal things. However, since I can not locate an account for axiom I must proceed to the next stage. At this time, I have an awareness of the Forms.
I know The Forms of Truth and Beauty. According to Parmenides, each Form has a characteristic of being unchanging and singular. In this final stage, I, the psyche, encounter The Good and am able to relate with it. I reach noesis, which is Greek for identity with The Good. In this final stage is intelligible light which permits me to achieve my aim of accessing elements in totality such as The Forms.
I am now content because I can clearly comprehend The Good. I have now reached the destination point where Parmendies' being and Socrates' Universal. In the Greek World, if there is no light then there is no knowledge. However, I have now reached my objective because since I am at the highest level of intelligible light, I now have knowledge, according to the Greeks.
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Research essay sample on Greek Philosopher Sense Perception
