Some Arguments from the Phaedo for Platonic Forms | PHIL 3000, Assignments of Ancient Philosophy

Download Some Arguments from the Phaedo for Platonic Forms | PHIL 3000 and more Assignments Ancient Philosophy in PDF only on Docsity! History of Philosophy: Ancient P3000 Handout §5 Some Arguments from the Phaedo for Platonic Forms I. From Aristotle, Metaphysics Book I.6: (1) Sensibles are in flux. (2) Whatever is in flux is unknowable. (3) Therefore, sensibles are unknowable. (4) But there is some knowledge. (5) Therefore there are some nonsensible objects of knowledge: Forms. What kind of flux is meant in premise (1)? It could be (a) synchronic flux, or the compresence of opposites (S is both tall and not-tall at the same time) (b) diachronic flux, either weak or strong If we accept synchronic flux as the kind Aristotle is talking about in his argument, we have this revised version: (1) Sensibles suffer compresence of opposites (synchronic flux). (2) Whatever suffers the compresence of opposites is unknowable. (3) Therefore, sensibles are unknowable. (4) But there is some knowledge. (5) Therefore there are some nonsensible objects of knowledge: Forms. II. From Plato, Phaedo 74b-d: (1) Equal sticks and stones sometimes, staying the same, appear equal to one and unequal to another. (2) The equals themselves are never unequal. (3) Therefore, the equal itself and equal things are not the same.