Plato's view: How he explained the world

Plato was a Greek philosopher who lived from 427 to 347 BC. He is known for his idealism, which is the belief that physical objects are only imperfect copies of perfect, eternal objects that exist in a world beyond our physical world.

Plato believed that knowledge is a matter of grasping the eternal truths that govern the universe, and he saw philosophy as a way to know these truths. In this article, we will examine Plato's view of the world and life.

Plato believed that there are two worlds: the physical world, the world of imperfect, changeable things, and the spiritual world, the world of perfect, unchangeable things. He believed that our souls live in the spiritual world, but our bodies are confined to the physical world. Plato also believed that knowledge cannot be acquired through experience or observation, but comes through reason and reflection.

According to Plato, everything in the physical world is an imperfect copy of an eternal object in the spirit world. For example, a table in the physical world is an imperfect copy of the ideal form of a table that exists in the spirit world. Plato believed that knowledge is a matter of grasping these forms with our minds. He also believed that philosophy is a way of gaining this knowledge.

In Plato's view, then, life is a journey to attain knowledge of the forms. This journey takes place in two stages. First, we must free our minds from preoccupation with earthly things by engaging in contemplation and reflection. Second, we must use this knowledge to improve our lives and create a just society.

This view of how the world (or by extension, the universe) is is highly interesting and something we don't often consider in modern life. It makes sense, too, because throughout history other philosophies have emerged and supplanted Plato's ideas, for example the philosophy of empiricism, which is based on the idea that knowledge comes from experience and observation, and which is - you may have guessed it - the basis of modern science.

Even though Plato's ideas about the world seem a bit far-fetched, his thoughts about how we should live our lives are still highly relevant. After all, his idea of using reason and contemplation to improve our lives is something we can all benefit from!

How? It's possible that you already know how. But maybe you don't know that you know. That sounds strange and artificially mysterious. I know. But it makes sense.

Let's take the example of doing a mediocre job or only half-heartedly applying yourself to something. You may not be aware of it, but you are harming yourself more than helping yourself. Because if we are only half-heartedly committed to something, we are not using our minds and our reasoning to the fullest. We don't engage in the journey to knowledge that Plato talks about. And often we know that.

The project for our boss was not done to the best of our ability? We were not fully present when we spent time with our loved ones? Whatever we do or do not do, even though we know better, is a perfect deviation from the ideal forms in the spiritual world.

If you ask me, it's perfectly fine to not always give 100 % to something. Imagine always giving your all to everything you do. What sounds like a great thing could turn into a nightmare.

For example, can you always clean up the kitchen perfectly? What about the living room? The kitchen? Can you always line up all your books accurately? Can you strive for your absolute goal in a mundane task whose outcome has no relevant impact, to the neglect of something important, such as having a happy time with your friends or family?

You see what I'm getting at. We live a life with a very limited resource: time. And since its finiteness is an irrefutable law, you have to set priorities.

And it's okay to do that in accordance with your morals, your desire, and your need. But I would say that it is important to be aware of how things could be. Or according to Plato, what they would really be because of their spiritual nature.

If we do that, I believe we can reach for bigger things - whenever it makes sense - and make for a better life and, by extension, a better world.