Ideas from 'Phaedrus' by Plato [368 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Complete Works' by Plato (ed/tr Cooper,John M.) [Hackett 1997,0-87220-349-2]].

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1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy

162	Can we understand an individual soul without knowing the soul in general?

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy

160	The highest ability in man is the ability to discuss unity and plurality in the nature of things

1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 2. Analysis by Division

166	A speaker should be able to divide a subject, right down to the limits of divisibility

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 2. Realism

7953	Reasoning needs to cut nature accurately at the joints

7. Existence / E. Categories / 2. Categorisation

16121

I revere anyone who can discern a single thing that encompasses many things

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 2. Need for Universals

153	It takes a person to understand, by using universals, and by using reason to create a unity out of sense-impressions

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / a. Platonic Forms

154	We would have an overpowering love of knowledge if we had a pure idea of it - as with the other Forms

12. Knowledge Sources / C. Rationalism / 1. Rationalism

151	True knowledge is of the reality behind sense experience

14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 5. Anomalies

165	If the apparent facts strongly conflict with probability, it is in everyone's interests to suppress the facts

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche

9296	The soul is self-motion

18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / g. Controlling emotions

23997

Plato saw emotions and appetites as wild horses, in need of taming [Goldie]

19. Language / F. Communication / 1. Rhetoric

5946	'Phaedrus' pioneers the notion of philosophical rhetoric [Lawson-Tancred]

158	An excellent speech seems to imply a knowledge of the truth in the mind of the speaker

159	Only a good philosopher can be a good speaker

21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 4. Beauty

155	Beauty is the clearest and most lovely of the Forms

22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature

143	The two ruling human principles are the natural desire for pleasure, and an acquired love of virtue

22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / c. Value of pleasure

157	Most pleasure is release from pain, and is therefore not worthwhile

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / c. Motivation for virtue

144	Reason impels us towards excellence, which teaches us self-control

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / d. Friendship

156	Bad people are never really friends with one another

27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 3. The Beginning

148	If the prime origin is destroyed, it will not come into being again out of anything

28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections

152	The mind of God is fully satisfied and happy with a vision of reality and truth

28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 4. God Reflects Humanity

150	We cannot conceive of God, so we have to think of Him as an immortal version of ourselves

28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism

149	There isn't a single reason for positing the existence of immortal beings

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality

146	Soul is always in motion, so it must be self-moving and immortal