Term Paper on "Plato and Zen Suzuki"

Term Paper 5 pages (1460 words) Sources: 0

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Philosophy: Plato, Socrates, And Zen

The problem of truth is tied up in the two main obstacles that it presents to philosopher. The first obstacle is determining what truths are to begin with. It is the task of the philosopher to conceptualize abstract concepts such as truth effectively. The second obstacle is the determination of what makes these truths true at all. In other words, how can it be proved that a certain statement, presumed true, actually is?

Zen philosophy has applications to the first problem or obstacle, determining what can be considered truth. Truth for Zen isn't simply about making a statement about the nature of truth in the world, but rather is tied up in the act of embodying the truth itself by becoming the truth that is perceived/imagined in the world. The second obstacle can be surmounted to some degree by Socrates. Socrates employed the touted Socratic method not to teach but to reveal and lead his "students" on a path of self-discovery. Through this constant questioning, discussion, and argument Socrates could apparently develop the intellectual basis for providing a rational description of why certain truths can be considered as such.

2. Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 469 to 399 BCE. He is regarded as one of the most significant philosophers of the Western tradition even though he left no texts behind and all of the information we have regarding him is second-hand. Plato was a Greek philosopher (429-347 BCE) whose writings are extensive and very influential. Developed the concept that this world is an error-filled reflection of a more perfect one that contains immutable concepts such as Truth and Beauty.

In the 5th c. BCE in Greece, the Sophists were a class of intellectuals who employed rhetoric to persuade or convince others. The search for truth was not as pressing a concern for them as was convincing one's audience that one is correct in his/her argument. Socrates' method of teaching differed significantly from this because he was interested in unearthing "truth," but also because he employed the Socratic method. Rather than arguing and persuading in a confrontational manner, Socrates guided and questioned. Through this repeated action he was able to lead his students toward a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it.

3. In the Republic, we must understand that the concept of justice they employed varies somewhat from our own. It would be difficult to narrow down this concept excessively -- since the whole of the book is centered about finding a determination of the value of justice. Rather than being simply a matter of legality, as it is often today used, justice is a presumed virtue that guides individuals in making correct and moral decisions in all aspects of their lives.

According to the discussion in the text, there are three types of good: pleasure, social significance, and wisdom. Socrates argued that justice falls into the category of "pleasure." He makes the argument that justice can be valued unto itself because it promotes the happiness of the agent who pursues a just life. His critics in the text, however, are not immediately convinced. They want Socrates to substantiate the argument that justice can be valued for its own sake.

4. Glaucon, on the matter of justice, makes the argument that it cannot be perceived as an absolute virtue that can exist for its own sake. Rather, he sees justice as a concept that is used by the powerful to enrich their control over the weaker. He argues that fear of punishment for acting unjustly is all that maintains a continued sense of justice. Of four possibilities, Glaucon fixates on fear of punishment and the deterioration of a good life as the only reason for the pursuit of a just life. This is a relatively pessimistic view of justice as a concept, one that Socrates resists. Instead, Socrates believes that justice can be understood as a virtue unto itself.

But Glaucon remains unconvinced of this possibility. As demonstration of his argument, Glaucon retells the legend of Gyges. In the story, Gyges discovered a ring that gave him the power to become invisible. With this power, Gyges uses the ring to infiltrate the royal court, seduce the queen, murder the king, and take over the kingdom. The point that Glaucon makes is that no one, given the opportunity to… READ MORE

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