[MD] Some historical perspective

[mark_maxwell at talktalk.net]

Mark,

After reading allot of Plato recently, the central theme seems to be the love of wisdom, it's craft, and inducing this love in others.



Squonk (aka mark) Hi Ron,

Agreed.



Truth, In most all of his early writings, is demonstrated as contextual. Plato, in the Parminides, speaks about the forms, how they are of the cave of society, he speaks of being free of the forms, Parmenides retorts how the forms are needed for communication, for knowledge that the only way to point to "the light" is to use the shadow of forms.



Squonk: I personally don’t have much of a problem with what you say here.

I think Plato was an ingenious guy.



Aristotle, is the one who separated the craft of wisd
 om and the knowledge of truth Truth lie in the concept of determining "that which is measurable, that it is measurable and that which is not, is not" Aristotle and Plato had two different views of aporia, (that which brings confusion or puzzlement) Plato's dialogs were meant to induce it, Aristotle’s meta physics began with a list of common puzzlements and sought to determine which aporia to begin study with. Aristotle’s axioms begin with the assumption of "substance" and laws of non contrariety in an effort to dispel aporia. Apparently Aristotle didn’t think "wisdom" was practical.



Ron



Squonk: This is an interesting way of describing a difference between Plato and Aristotle’s approaches. It feels righ
 t.

I disagree with your suggestion that Aristotle may have regarded Wisdom to be Impractical. The Nicomachean Ethics spends allot of time on practical Wisdom, which he defines in terms of a settled state of emotion driving a rationally determined aim. These aims are social and not ‘hands on’ with the engine oil, so in that regard you may be right!



All the best,

squonk