I think it’s better described as objective idealism. That is, Ideas or Forms are real, in that they’re not dependent on your or my mind, but they’re only graspable by a rational intelligence. — Wayfarer
The article continues:
"Although we have just referred to Plato, the term “idealism” became the name for a whole family of positions in philosophy only in the course of the eighteenth century." — Fooloso4
In regards to the Enneads by Plotinus, that book is an ordering of reality in relationship to the One. It is a system that attempts to be consistent to itself. The semantics and concern are much different than the character of Plato's Dialogues where the conversation goes where it goes. — Valentinus
Better if you tell me why you think it isn't. — Janus
What? — frank
Neoplatonism is a much more specific term than "objective idealism" — Janus
Why call it idealism at all? Is everything that is grasped by a rational intelligence a form of idealism? Is mathematics a form of idealism? — Fooloso4
There are different schools of thought. There are also many scholars who avoid the use of anachronistic terminology. The idea is, to the extent it is possible, to understand an author on his own terms using his own terminology. — Fooloso4
I think this section important - his pleasurable release from painful tight chains.
Death might be seen as a welcome release from the physical body with all its discomforts.
The pain of life v the joy of the afterlife ?*
There is a separation. Not here a mingling as felt by Phaedo.
— Amity
That release on the last day of his life is important. The inclusion of Xanthippe gives sharp relief to her charge that one last party is planned with his friends. The friends' concern about the subject of death is mixed up with the realization that they won't have Socrates to animate them any longer.
Pardon the lateness of my reply. I am working in meatspace presently so I will participate in a delayed fashion. — Valentinus
Later: https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/534374As we shall see, opposites will play an important part in Socrates’ stories. — Fooloso4
a comedy or tragedy
— Fooloso4
Both ?
— Amity
Yes. The idea of opposites not being mutually exclusive will come up several times. — Fooloso4
Then doesn't purification turn out to be just what's been mentioned for some while in our discussion--the parting of the soul from the body as far as possible, and the habituating of it to assemble and gather itself together, away from every part of the body, alone by itself, and to live, so far as it can, both in the present and in the hereafter, released from the body, as from fetters?
Trying to equate Plato's philosophy with neoplatonism would be no different than trying to understand Kant in terms of neokantianism, that is it would be bound to mislead. — Janus
I think @Fooloso4 is right to reject the use of what can only be considered anachronistic, unnecessary and unhelpful terminology. — Janus
Plato's own Greek terms? And how do we decide on their precise meaning when it has already been determined that the dialogues can, and maybe should, be interpreted in many different ways? — Apollodorus
Plato's own Greek terms were often varied and indeterminate. Plato deliberately did not employ precise or just consistent meanings throughout his works or even within the same dialogue.
Why? Perhaps his philosophy was a work in progress with many problems and hypothesized solutions still open in his mind. — magritte
Interesting. Well worth keeping in mind. I expect there exists a Glossary somewhere which might help ? *Plato's own Greek terms were often varied and indeterminate. Plato deliberately did not employ precise or just consistent meanings throughout his works or even within the same dialogue. — magritte
the problem of terminology and meaning. — Apollodorus
I will be citing this online translation: http://www.faculty.umb.edu/gary_zabel/Phil_100/Plato_files/310585462-Plato-Phaedo.pdf
but relying on this one: Plato-Phaedo-Focus-Philosophical-Library/dp/0941051692. Certain terms from this edition will be used in place of what is found in the online translation. — Fooloso4
Plato's Phaedo - this pdf is the translation with notes by David Gallop.
The translation 1
Notes 74
Notes on text and translation 226
Bibliographies 239
Abbreviations 242
Index 244 — Amity
However, good translations of foreign texts will usually include an Introduction, Notes on the text and address problems of interpretation. They discuss other interpretations and meanings and give reasons for their own choice. — Amity
No one disputes that. — Apollodorus
But that doesn't eliminate the problem of terminology and meaning. — Apollodorus
But Fooloso4 said he reads the dialogues differently every time he reads them and he intends to disregard meanings suggested by Platonists like Plotinus and modern scholars alike. — Apollodorus
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