PLATO

Plato (428 347 BCE) Founded the Academy in Athens in 387 BCE, specializing in mathematics and logic His philosophical thought covered metaphysics, ethics, and politics, written in Dialogues which involved Socrates questioning his students. Socrates (469-399 BCE) had mentored Plato, who in turn mentored Aristotle (388-322 BCE). His most well know text is The Republic, illustrating an ideal state run by philosopher-kings who have total control, but are benevolent rulers who have studied the form of the Good.

PLATOS JUSTIFIED TRUE BELIEF (JTB)

Plato and his students/contemporaries were not only concerned with acquiring knowledge, but with being certain that it was really valid. Intuition or faith did not generate certainty for them certainty involved knowledge that could be both described and communicated. It must also be absolutely convincing to any reasonable people. Plato had three tests for certain knowledge:

Test One: You must Believe the Statement Test Two: Your Belief has to be True Test Three: Your True Belief must be Justified

Test One: Belief It is nonsensical to suggest that you can call a statement true without actually believing it. Consider: Its true that Ottawa is the capital of Canada, but I dont believe it. Does this makes sense? Would you call it truth if you didnt have the belief? Substitute the word conviction for belief Despite belief being an attitude of mind, not believing something somehow affects its truthiness (thanks Stephen Colbert!) Test Two: Truth Plato was an ABSOLUTIST, and accordingly believed that there was an objective reality that was independent of human perception (and even understanding). [A RELATIVIST would suggest that all things are influenced by human understanding: There is no truth except that which human beings manufacture as truth.] Characteristics of Truth a) Truth is public: Truth is the same for everyone if something is true its true for everyone; if something is false its false for everyone. b) Truth is independent of anyones belief something can be true even if everyone believes it to be false; something can be false even if everyone believes it to be true. c) Truth is eternal: A true statement is true now, always has been true, and always will be true. According to Platos JTB, despite having belief, if a statement isnt objectively true then it cannot be described as certain knowledge.

Test Three: Justification Even if one believes a statement, and its objectively true, it still has to be able to be justified before it can count as knowledge according to Plato. There are four main systems that allow for this:

Logic (divided into deductive and inductive logic) Empirical Evidence (observation) relies on perception, which can be fooled Memory (generally reliable, but can also be fallible) Authority (there are authorities we can generally trust, though authority is not always right)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do YOU decide if you accept something as knowledge? 2. i) Select examples of one specific thing you have learned in History Science Mathematics ii) Turn each piece of knowledge into a statement that can be tested by the three tests for Justified True Belief. iii) Subject your statement to the three tests. iv) On the evidence of your tests, examine the validity of Justified True Belief 3. What, for you, is an acceptable definition of the word knowledge? 4. Are the three types of justification logic, empiricism, and authority equally reliable? Put them in a hierarchy and attempt to justify your hierarchy. 5. What are you claiming to know when you know a piece of music? 6. What is the difference between someone saying I am certain and It is certain?