Plato's Radical Respect for Reason

Monday Night Philosophy recognizes that reasoning has always been part of human life, but Plato played a radical role in increasing our respect for the power of reason, cutting through mythological beliefs and inaccurate opinions. He shared his passionate enthusiasm for reason with the students of his Academy (and later with us) through his philosophical dialogues.

Plato carried his ideas out of the shadows of the cave of Pythagorean secrecy and spread them out in the sunlight for everyone to see. Plato even records Socrates arguing that philosophical discussions should not be recorded in writing because they will then be distorted and misunderstood. 

Plato's mischievous and knowing disobedience was based on his acceptance that distortions and misunderstandings would abound. But he was convinced that it was crucial to make clear, conceptual reasoning more popular if we were ever going to understand the world we inhabit. Plato's decision proved vital to our current understanding of reasoning. However, the popularity of his radical respect for reason is still in its infancy of influence on human culture. Peer ahead to see what is still to come. 

MLF Organizer Name

George Hammond

Notes

MLF: Humanities

Parthenon photo by Adam Crowley/Photodisc/Getty Images