Plato and Socrates are two of the most famous figures in the history of philosophy. They are often associated with each other because Socrates was Plato’s teacher, and Plato’s writings are the primary source of information we have about Socrates’s life and teachings.
Socrates:
Socrates was a Greek philosopher who lived in Athens in the 5th century BCE. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Socrates did not write down his teachings, so we know about his philosophy through the writings of his students, particularly Plato and Xenophon.
Socrates’s life came to an end when he was brought to trial on charges of corrupting the youth and believing in gods other than the state gods. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Socrates chose to drink hemlock rather than flee Athens and avoid his sentence, a decision that has been the subject of much philosophical debate.
Plato:
Plato was a student of Socrates and is considered one of the founders of philosophy. He was born into a wealthy family in Athens in the 5th century BCE and is known for his dialogues, which often feature Socrates as the main character. Through these dialogues, Plato explores a wide range of philosophical topics, including ethics, politics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
Plato’s philosophy is characterized by his belief in the existence of forms, which are perfect, eternal, and unchanging entities that exist independently of the physical world. He believed that the forms are what gives objects their identity and that the physical world is a mere shadow of the true reality of the forms.
5 Similarities Between the Philosophies of Plato and Socrates:
Following are 5 of the similarities between the philosophical teachings of Plato and Socrates:
1. Socrates’ method of questioning (elenchus) to expose ignorance:
Socrates was famous for his method of questioning, also known as the Socratic Method, which he used to explore and uncover the flaws in thoughts.Â
The method involves asking a series of questions to lead a person to understand their ignorance or to realize the weakness of their arguments. It’s like having a deep conversation where you keep asking “Why?” until you get to the heart of the matter.
For example, imagine you’re arguing with someone about whether honesty is always the best policy. Using the Socratic method, you might ask them why they think honesty is important. They might say it’s because it builds trust. You could then ask why trust is important, and so on until you both start to see the bigger picture of why honesty matters in relationships and society.
Similarity:
Both Socrates and Plato were rebels in a way. They didn’t just accept what everyone else believed; they questioned it. They believed that it’s important to think for yourself and not just follow the crowd. They encouraged people to look beyond the surface of things and to think deeply about what’s truly good, true, and beautiful.
For example, if everyone around you believes that the only way to succeed in life is to get a high-paying job, Socrates and Plato would say, “Why do you think that? What does success really mean to you?” They’d push you to think beyond societal norms and find your own answers.
2. The Nature of the Soul
Socrates’ Belief:
Socrates believed that the soul is something that continues to exist after the body dies. He thought that the soul is what makes us who we are, more important than our physical bodies. It’s like believing in a part of us that is eternal and doesn’t fade away with time.
For example, when someone you love dies, Socrates would say that their soul lives on in some form. This belief can bring comfort, suggesting that even though we can’t see them, a part of them is still with us.
Plato’s tripartite theory of the soul:
Plato believed that the soul has three parts: reason, spirit, and appetite. Each part controls different aspects of our behavior and personality. Reason is about thinking and making good decisions; spirit is about courage and standing up for what’s right; and appetite is about our desires and needs.
Imagine you’re trying to decide whether to eat all the cookies in the jar or save some for later. Your reason might say to save them, your spirit might want to be strong and resist temptation, and your appetite might be screaming for immediate satisfaction. According to Plato, a healthy soul is one where these three parts work together in balance.
Similarity:
Both Socrates and Plato believed that the soul is the most important part of a person. They thought that taking care of your soul—by being wise, brave, and in control of your desires—was key to living a good life.
In other words, it’s not just about what you do, but who you are on the inside. If you have a healthy soul, you’re more likely to make good choices and live a fulfilling life.
3. The Ideal Society
Socrates’ focus on justice and the individual’s role in society:
Socrates believed that each person has a responsibility to contribute to society in a way that’s fair and just. He thought that justice is about doing what you’re best at and what’s needed for the good of all.
Plato’s conception of the ideal state in “The Republic”:
In his book “The Republic,” Plato describes what he thinks is the perfect society. He believed that society should be divided into three classes: the rulers (who are wise and make decisions), the warriors (who protect the society), and the workers (who produce food and goods). Each person should stay in their assigned role and not try to do someone else’s job.
Imagine a society where everyone knows their place and does their part without complaining. That’s what Plato envisioned as the ideal state.
Similarity:
Both Socrates and Plato agreed that a good society is one that values justice and moral excellence (virtue). They believed that education was crucial for creating good citizens. They thought that if people are educated and wise, they’ll make better decisions and society will run smoothly.
In other words, they believed that a society is only as good as its citizens. If people are well-educated and virtuous, the whole community will benefit.
4. The Theory of Forms:
Socrates’ Influence on the Theory of Forms:
Socrates’ belief in the search for truth and the idea that knowledge is remembering, not just learning, influenced Plato’s theory of Forms. Socrates’ insistence on the pursuit of absolute truths led Plato to propose the existence of these perfect, unchanging Forms as the ultimate reality.
Plato’s View on Forms:
Plato believed in something called “Forms,” which are perfect versions of everything we see in the world. For example, there’s a Form of “beauty” that’s more real than any beautiful thing we can see. He thought that when we recognize beauty in something, it’s because we’re remembering the perfect Form of beauty.
Similarity:
Both Socrates and Plato emphasized the idea that true knowledge is not merely acquired through learning but rather remembered from a higher realm of existence.
Socrates’ belief in the pursuit of absolute truths led Plato to propose the existence of perfect Forms, which represent the ultimate reality.
Similarly, Plato’s theory suggests that when we recognize qualities such as beauty in the world, we are actually remembering the perfect Forms of those qualities that exist beyond our physical reality.
5. The Concept of Knowledge
Socrates’ view of knowledge as a virtue
Socrates believed that knowledge was the essence of virtue and that wisdom was the most important virtue. He argued that people engage in wrongdoing because of their ignorance and that if they had knowledge of what is good, they would act accordingly.
Socrates’ view of knowledge as virtue is central to his philosophy and is reflected in his famous quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Plato’s theory of forms and the nature of knowledge
Plato’s theory of forms is a philosophical doctrine that holds that the physical world is an imperfect reflection of the true reality of the forms.
According to Plato, the forms are perfect, eternal, and unchanging entities that exist independently of the physical world. Knowledge, for Plato, is a matter of recognizing the forms, which he believed were present in the souls of humans before they were born. This idea suggests that true knowledge is not acquired but rather remembered.
Similarity:
Both Socrates and Plato emphasize the importance of knowledge in the pursuit of a good life. Socrates believed that knowledge was the key to living a virtuous life, while Plato believed that true knowledge was a matter of recognizing the forms. Both philosophers also believed that true knowledge was not something that could be acquired but rather something that was already present in the soul and could be remembered through search.
References:
- Ancient History Encyclopedia. “Socrates.”
- Plato. “The Republic.” Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Project Gutenberg.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Plato’s Middle Period Metaphysics and Epistemology.” https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-metaphysics/.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Plato’s Ethics and Politics in The Republic.” https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-ethics-politics/#IdeSta.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. “Plato’s Timaeus.” https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-timaeus/#TheFor.
- University of California, San Diego. “Plato and His Dialogues.”
- University of Chicago. “The Internet Classics Archive | Phaedrus by Plato.”
