Meno and Phaedo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Meno and Phaedo - Essay ExampleThe next will present three succinct (and related) arguments which defend the position concerning the immortality of the soul. The arguments in question, are as follows (1) argument from opposites 69e-72e, (2) argument from recollection 73-78b, and fin onlyy, (3) the argument from affinity 84c-88b. The focus of this analysis will be on the above three sections, however, both a affection of some of the objections will follow, and finally, the final or summary refutation provided by Platos mouthpiece (Socrates). The first position in question, is the argument from opposites. This is an argument which is found on an inference which is an extension of observation. What we perceive around us, is a process in nature where opposites address into each other. In this section in question, Plato observes the following opposites which typify this process of becoming 72B, namely, the opposites of small/larger 70Efaster/slower, waking/sleeping71D, and hot/cold71B . As menti unityd, these are processes whereby opposites turn into one another. There are, however, some problems with this argument. First, the very notion of opposite is problematic. ... in Celsius) between hot and cold, but they are not opposites in the contradictory genius of life and death. In other words, life and death are binary opposites in the sense that a person is either alive, or they are dead. A difference in the sense presented by Plato with respect to hot and cold or conversely, fast and slow are not binary opposites the admit of a middle ground, and moreover, they are united or related in some sense. They are related in the sense of world relative to another. While a tortoise is relatively slow when compared with a hare, a hare is slow when compared to the speed of light. Thus, is the hare fast or slow? In normal logic, one cannot predicate real opposites of the same thing, this is the law of non-contradiction Wagner 28 and this is actually that which brings into question some of what Plato is claiming concerning these opposites. This said, Plato is claiming that all things come to be in this way, opposites from opposites 71A. Further, he infers that among all of these things, must also be the soul and the body. Thus, if everything turns into its opposite, then, the soul must turn into the body, and the body must turn into the soul. Phrased in terms of a syllogism, (1.) if it can be said that to be dead is the opposite of being alive 71D, and (2) all things come to be in this way, opposites from opposites 71A, then, (3) it can be inferred that the body and soul turn into each other. As has been noted, the form of this argument is an inference, and there are some problems, and second, his very notion of opposites includes contraries and not just contradictories that is,