Socrates and PlatoSocrates and Plato• Socrates uses reason to find moral realitySocrates uses reason to find moral reality

– Same rationalist assumptionsSame rationalist assumptions• One, unchanging, knowable, rational, realOne, unchanging, knowable, rational, real• Plus: Knowledge Plus: Knowledge virtue virtue

• Death at the hands of democracyDeath at the hands of democracy– Becomes the hero of Plato's dialoguesBecomes the hero of Plato's dialogues

• Dies ignorant--method Dies ignorant--method doubt; no solutiondoubt; no solution– Hard to prove a contradiction from moral premisesHard to prove a contradiction from moral premises

• Plato combines with Parmenides rationalismPlato combines with Parmenides rationalism– Ultimate reality is value/meaning (definition)Ultimate reality is value/meaning (definition)– Intellectual reality = idealism (optimism and ideas)Intellectual reality = idealism (optimism and ideas)

Define: Philosophy=SemanticsDefine: Philosophy=Semantics• Basis of all knowledgeBasis of all knowledge

– Needed to know the truth of sentencesNeeded to know the truth of sentences– Because needed to know meaning?Because needed to know meaning?

• Vicious circle--must be some we learn withoutVicious circle--must be some we learn without– In fact most are learned without definitionsIn fact most are learned without definitions

• But important to logic (Geometry)But important to logic (Geometry)– Allows logical analysis, reveals structure of Allows logical analysis, reveals structure of

argumentsarguments

• Reality=concepts, meanings, Ideos, FormsReality=concepts, meanings, Ideos, Forms– One, unchanging, knowable, rational=realOne, unchanging, knowable, rational=real

• Sense experience is unreal, belief, change etc.Sense experience is unreal, belief, change etc.

Working with DefinitionsWorking with Definitions• Rules to ensure we get the right kindRules to ensure we get the right kind

– No lists, vagueness, circularity (synonym)No lists, vagueness, circularity (synonym)• Must give an analysis: species and differenceMust give an analysis: species and difference

– Biology model of scientific knowledge (classification)Biology model of scientific knowledge (classification)

– No hearsay (only expert insight) & test by reasonNo hearsay (only expert insight) & test by reason

• Real v nominal definitionsReal v nominal definitions– Things real nature—what makes it “of that kind”Things real nature—what makes it “of that kind”– Shared in things of that type.Shared in things of that type.

• Result: Theory of FormsResult: Theory of Forms– The ultimate reality (metaphysics); distinguishes The ultimate reality (metaphysics); distinguishes

knowledge from belief, meaning/logic, valueknowledge from belief, meaning/logic, value

QuestionsQuestionsGive a formal analysis of the Give a formal analysis of the Analects Analects 論語 論語 argument for the social-political argument for the social-political importance of rectifying names importance of rectifying names 正名正名 . . Is it valid? Is it sound? Explain why or Is it valid? Is it sound? Explain why or why not.why not.Coffee Tutorial today at 1 pmCoffee Tutorial today at 1 pm

Difficulty: Famous AnalogiesDifficulty: Famous Analogies• Cave: sensible appearance v realityCave: sensible appearance v reality

– C.f. taking hallucinatory drugsC.f. taking hallucinatory drugs– Meditation or rational insightMeditation or rational insight

• Analogy: shadow/object as object/formAnalogy: shadow/object as object/form– Equal difficulty in getting you to accept themEqual difficulty in getting you to accept them– When you "see" them, you will need no more When you "see" them, you will need no more

convincingconvincing• The character of the object determines your The character of the object determines your

knowledgeknowledge

Line Analogy: Line Analogy: • Links metaphysics and epistemologyLinks metaphysics and epistemology• Knowability depends on nature of object Knowability depends on nature of object

(Parmenides)(Parmenides)• Rival view: true belief plus an account (the Rival view: true belief plus an account (the

modern modern analysis)analysis)– X knows that P =df. X knows that P =df.

• P is trueP is true• X believes that PX believes that P• X has justification for believing that P X has justification for believing that P

The Sun AnalogyThe Sun Analogy• Rule for identification of formsRule for identification of forms

–Logic: there must be a form of formsLogic: there must be a form of forms–““More real” than the formsMore real” than the forms

• The form of the good: of all valueThe form of the good: of all value–Form of the truth/beauty/goodForm of the truth/beauty/good

• Mystical Result:Absolute one/being Mystical Result:Absolute one/being –No mental graspNo mental grasp

• It would blind us (our intuition)It would blind us (our intuition)–But necessarily there But necessarily there

• (or nothing exists)(or nothing exists)

Key Political DoctrinesKey Political Doctrines• The RepublicThe Republic a political plan a political plan

–Justice in political structure =in Justice in political structure =in individualindividual• Rule of the correct ruler—intellectRule of the correct ruler—intellect

• The Philosopher KingThe Philosopher King–Anti-democratic and manipulativeAnti-democratic and manipulative–Education and classesEducation and classes–Social ranks: intellectual, spirited, Social ranks: intellectual, spirited,

body-likebody-like

End Plato & Greek RationalismEnd Plato & Greek Rationalism• Ancient Chinese idealism next!Ancient Chinese idealism next!

On To China! On To China! • Same approximate timeSame approximate time

– Axial age hypothesis because of lack of Axial age hypothesis because of lack of contactcontact

– Socrates, Buddha, ConfuciusSocrates, Buddha, Confucius

• ContrastContrast– First philosopher the most famousFirst philosopher the most famous

– Starts out with politics and ethicsStarts out with politics and ethics• Geography and Shang CultureGeography and Shang Culture

– Navigation v landlocked agricultureNavigation v landlocked agriculture– Geometry v cyclesGeometry v cycles

China’s UniquenessChina’s Uniqueness• Non-Indic religious baseNon-Indic religious base

• No immortal “soul” but spirit = No immortal “soul” but spirit = 精神精神• No creation God or anthropomorphismNo creation God or anthropomorphism

– Oldest continuous religion—ancestor Oldest continuous religion—ancestor venerationveneration

• Political organization firstPolitical organization first– Shang society and Zhou “nature” Shang society and Zhou “nature” 天天– Social religion and “Emperor on High”Social religion and “Emperor on High”

• Oracle bones and conquestOracle bones and conquest• Beginning of “deliberate” historyBeginning of “deliberate” history

Mandate of Mandate of 天天 tiantiannature:skynature:sky • Duke of Zhou political justificationDuke of Zhou political justification

– MoralMoral divine right of kings divine right of kings– With right to revolution built inWith right to revolution built in

• Mandate/duty Mandate/duty 命 命 to rule/care for to rule/care for 天下天下– Society in natureSociety in nature– Lost when fails or losesLost when fails or loses 德 德 dedevirtuosityvirtuosity

• Mandate goes to anotherMandate goes to another– Revolution and success (rain, luck, etc.) sign of Revolution and success (rain, luck, etc.) sign of 天 天 命 命 tian’s selectiontian’s selection

Confucius:Confucius:

• Traditional political viewTraditional political view– Controversy: education firstControversy: education first

• Dreams of Duke of Zhou Dreams of Duke of Zhou 周公周公– 天 天 tiantiannature:skynature:sky names ( names ( 命命 mingmingdestinydestiny) ) the rulerthe ruler

• Moral Moral merit merit 德德 – – not pure religionnot pure religion

• IsIs 天天 God? (Like Western "divine right of God? (Like Western "divine right of kings")kings")

• 上 帝 上 帝 was anthropomorphic ancestorwas anthropomorphic ancestor– Place of dead spirits “above”Place of dead spirits “above”– 天 天 Tian also above, but only “destins” thingsTian also above, but only “destins” things

天 天 TianTiannature:skynature:sky: Natural Process?: Natural Process?

• ““Organic" or anthropological authority (?)Organic" or anthropological authority (?)

• Constant patternsConstant patterns– Corrupting power of evilCorrupting power of evil

• Confucius minimally religious but starts a Confucius minimally religious but starts a philosophical processphilosophical process– Agnostic about spirits and afterlifeAgnostic about spirits and afterlife– Little talk about Little talk about 天 天 tiantiannature:skynature:sky (??) (??)

• Natural moral social/political hierarchy--Natural moral social/political hierarchy--not hereditarynot hereditary

Purpose Of Hierarchical SocietyPurpose Of Hierarchical Society

• Naturalist & realistNaturalist & realist– We could add premises (evolution)We could add premises (evolution)

• Moral education, not institutionsMoral education, not institutions

– No legislatureNo legislature, , bureaus or courtsbureaus or courts

– Education by modelsEducation by models• Like father in the familyLike father in the family

– Ruler responsible for our moral characterRuler responsible for our moral character• No lawNo law• Motivation and linguistic argumentsMotivation and linguistic arguments

Penal Codes: Publish PunishmentsPenal Codes: Publish Punishments

• Not a list of general commands Not a list of general commands – (universal sentences creating legal (universal sentences creating legal

duties)duties)

• Thought of as naming the Thought of as naming the punishmentspunishments

• Then specifying when to use themThen specifying when to use them

• Texts call them Texts call them 刑 刑 xingxingpunishmentspunishments

Confucius' Argument Against LawConfucius' Argument Against Law

• ““Lead them with Lead them with 政政 zhengzhengcoercioncoercion, , order order them with them with 刑 刑 xingxingpunishmentpunishment, , the people the people will avoid [wrongdoing?] but will have no will avoid [wrongdoing?] but will have no shameshame. . LeadLead them with them with 德 德 dedevirtuosityvirtuosity and and order them withorder them with 禮禮 liliritualritual and they will and they will have shame and learn to fit in.” (2:3)have shame and learn to fit in.” (2:3)

Psychological and Interpretive GroundsPsychological and Interpretive Grounds

• Psychological Psychological argument: Human argument: Human sociability and weak sociability and weak selfishnessselfishness

• 禮禮 li li ritualritual exercises the exercises the natural impulse to natural impulse to conform to social conform to social expectationsexpectations

• Interpretive argument: Interpretive argument: public codes invite public codes invite disputation and disputation and encourage people to be encourage people to be argumentativeargumentative

• "In litigation, I am as "In litigation, I am as the others are, but the the others are, but the point is to eliminate point is to eliminate litigation"litigation"

Human NatureHuman Nature

• Natural social animals that have traditions: Natural social animals that have traditions: – Language and ritual Language and ritual 禮禮 liliritualritual

• Conventions = df. Shared coordination patterns that Conventions = df. Shared coordination patterns that persist because cooperation is more important than persist because cooperation is more important than alternative actionsalternative actions

• Confucius' ethics seem conventionalConfucius' ethics seem conventional– 禮禮 liliritualritual for training morality for training morality– Transmitter not a creatorTransmitter not a creator

Philosophical Content:Philosophical Content:• 正名 正名 zheng-mingzheng-mingrectify namesrectify names

• Father-ruler example: conflict of rulesFather-ruler example: conflict of rules

• Abortion caseAbortion case– Never kill an innocent personNever kill an innocent person– A fetus is an innocent personA fetus is an innocent person

• A fetus is not yet a personA fetus is not yet a person

– Never kill a fetusNever kill a fetus

• Intuition about instance helps us rectify namesIntuition about instance helps us rectify names– Judgment about abortionJudgment about abortion