Essay on "Is Virtue Indivisible According to Socrates in Plato S Dialogues"

Essay 3 pages (1149 words) Sources: 1 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

In this way, one can see that the whole of virtue is composed of parts but that the parts are all the same in the fence of virtue that gives a person character.

This links up to Socrates' most famous argument -- namely, that of the existence of the ultimate good, to which all things must be ordered in order for them to be good or holy, as Socrates prefers to call it. Holiness is the unity of virtues, the expression of goodness in action, and as he says to Protagoras, "Nothing can be holy if holiness is not holy" (149). This is, of course, always Socrates' main intention -- to drive home the point that the whole of existence emanates from the Holy, the transcendent unum, bonum, verum. It is also a religious argument as well as a philosophical one and a metaphysical one too. It is Socrates' main method to move all discourse towards the point of holiness if he can manage to do so with his partner in the discussion. Here, Protagoras assents and admits that there is such a thing as absolute holiness, which essentially means that virtue is whole and indivisible even though virtues themselves can be distinct.

This is part of the mystery of virtue, of course. For kindness too can be discussed by itself as its own thing -- but it can also be discussed and coupled with humility and the two can assume such characteristics that they appear to be the same and -- in a way -- are actually the same thing, because they emanate from holiness. For Socrates, holiness is identical to goodness and virtuousness. Yet, as Protagoras notes, virtues can be distinct in terms of quality and characteristic -- such as kindness or humility or perseverance. This mystery of how they can be distinct yet equal is intertwined with the overall mystery of existence, which is another thing that Socrates likes to discuss in order to move men's minds more closely to this ultimate truth, beauty and goodness -- this oneness that he knows is composed of the virtues that we strive to develop and attain in our own lives when we unite ourselves to the good, the true and the beautiful. It is all one and indivisible -- and yet we are capable of speaking of the features of this transcendent beauty as though they were divisible. This says more of the way our minds work than perhaps it does of the nature of the good and the virtue that we seek to attain in our lives.

In conclusion, kindness is a virtue that can be taught as both Socrates and Protagoras admit, and indeed it is part of that greater wisdom and virtue and good that is above us all like the sun and to which we reach up to possess like flowers as they turn their buds towards their source of light. In this manner, all virtue is one and indivisible and can be taught because that is the nature of itself -- of the goodness -- that it goes out from itself to be manifested in others. In this way, it is taught and can be learned by those who lack it.

References

Plato. (2010). The Dialouges, vol. 1. Online Library of Liberty. Retrieved from http://lf-oll.s3.amazonaws.com/titles/111/Plato_0131-01_EBk_v6.0.pdf READ MORE

How to Reference "Is Virtue Indivisible According to Socrates in Plato S Dialogues" Essay in a Bibliography

Related Essays:

Socrates in Plato's Writings, He Frequently Uses Term Paper

Socrates

In Plato's writings, he frequently uses the ideas and person of Socrates to further his philosophical goals, and also to teach his own pupils the principles of Socratic philosophy.… read more

Term Paper 3 pages (1117 words) Sources: 3 Style: MLA Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Socrates Inconsistent Positions About Obeying the Authority Reaction Paper

Socrates

In the Apology and Crito, Plato is showing two contrasting perspectives of Socrates. This takes place by demonstrating how he must engage in a form of civil disobedience by… read more

Reaction Paper 4 pages (1358 words) Sources: 2 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Plato's Republic Forms of Government Research Proposal

Plato's Republic

Forms of Government in the Republic by Plato

One of the most interesting aspects of the forms of government described in Plato's the Republic is his views on… read more

Research Proposal 5 pages (1644 words) Sources: 1 Style: APA Topic: Government / Politics

---

Plato's Cave Essay

Plato's Cave

Plato wants the reader to be both a philosopher and an agent of socio-political change. This is clear by the lesson that he draws from the cave allegory.… read more

Essay 5 pages (1580 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Plato/Socrates in Dialogue - Essay

Plato/Socrates in Dialogue - for Plato, the Dialogue was a form of argumentative conversation that had moments of humor, irony, and pathos that was used to be a two-way flow… read more

Essay 4 pages (1846 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>