1.2.1 Science without a connection with transcendence.

          When the sentient 'leading principle' in the human soul is in control of its conduct, then that person will base his knowledge on the finite material reality using solely sensory perception. Following the line metaphor in the Politeia we are positioned on the type of knowledge closely related with the material reality. Also against the natural order their rational and reasonable faculty will be instrumental to serve their insatiable emotional and instinctive needs. The Phaedrus dialogue comes up with this type of knowledge in its evaluation of political speeches that are for example of importance for matters of social justice. The morally questionable orator is not pursuing the truth, but driven by his ambition for power tries to cunningly gain persuasiveness by confirming opinions that appeal to the masses (260a, 272c). This orator argues about contestable or outright wrong opinions of the masses, just to court to favour of the general public (206b), and is consequently using minute differences in the material reality to arouse confusion in all sort of affairs (262a). For instance they will defend the statement that the shadow of an as is the image of a horse, thereby confusing noble hearted desires with the instinctive and insatiable desires (260d).
          Plato relates this art of debating with how in public meetings like courts of laws and scientific debates misleading opinions were being defended. In the Politeia we can read how in the democratic societies politicians eager for power tried to manipulate their audiences to win their votes by promising them an abundance of material goods, that made these people even more prone to their insatiable physical needs, sacrificing all moral standards like wisdom, justice and level-headedness (IX 562a-569c)¹. This insatiable greed for power and other finite pleasures finally totally consumed these leaders who themselves evolved in the end into the worst possible tyrants, which robbed their society of its freedom and enslaved their citizens with all sorts violence and oppression. The people will get the leaders they deserve.
          Dealing with scientific knowledge Plato discusses in the Sophist dialogue how these so-called scientist called 'sophists' make coherent logical reasoning impossible (261d). Their unsound reasoning tries to annul and sabotage any form of logic through their confusing identification of an 'identity-is' with an 'existence-is'. Their style of reasoning is not aiming to produce any truth, but uses all sorts of demagogic methods and tricks to court the favour of the public (266d-267d). Their opinion is no reasonable conviction derived from truth, but only a misleading conceptual representation of the material reality. This 'fake knowledge' can very well be standardized with the lowest and most inferior type of knowledge in the line metaphor: viz. conjecture (the shadows on the wall at the bottom of the cave) and its material origin.
 
 

BACK TO HOME PAGE

BACK TO CONTENTS

NEXT PARAGRAPH

Last updated April 29, 1999 author: Drs. T. J.  Kuijl ©1995-1999. Comments are welcome and can be send via e-mail (click on e-mail) Quotations of the content of this article should mention the author's name and its source. Copies of this article must leave the text unaltered including the copyright reference. Dissemination of  electronic copies is not allowed.

1. See in general book VIII and IX of the Politeia.