Plato's View of the Soul
Plato's philosophical framework presents a clear example of what is dualism in philosophy, emphasizing the fundamental separation between body and soul. His perspective establishes the soul as superior to the body, viewing it as the source of knowledge and philosophical understanding. The body, being part of the empirical world, is subject to change and serves as a distraction from higher purposes.
Definition: The soul, according to Plato, is an immortal, unchanging, and non-physical entity capable of acquiring knowledge.
Example: Plato uses the analogy of a charioteer controlling two horses to illustrate the tripartite soul example, where reason (the charioteer) must control spirit and desire (the horses).
Highlight: The relationship between body and soul is characterized as imprisonment rather than partnership, with the body acting as a prison from which the soul seeks liberation.
Quote: "The soul works best when reason (charioteer) is in charge."
Vocabulary: Plato theory of forms refers to the philosophical concept that abstract ideas exist in a perfect, unchanging realm separate from the physical world.