The Chemistry of Knowledge Essay -- Philosophy Knowledge Knowing Plato

The Chemistry of KnowledgeHippeas impression he had all the answers. I have never found any man who was my superior in anything, he boasted. Then he meets Socrates. Though he had made thousands of earthly concern speeches about virtue, a dialogue with the wisest of Athenians leads Hippeas to confess that he cannot even produce what virtue is (Hippeas 70). Lesser Hippeas discredits Hippeas but offers lilliputian more than a negative rendering of friendship. Meno, Phaedo, and the Republic provide a more comprehensive discussion of the definition, the grievous and the teaching of knowledge. The following pages will explore Platos theory of knowledge and will conclude with an examination of organic chemistry at Swarthmore College. concord to Plato, knowledge requires the reasoned understanding of essences. To know the qualities something possesses, one must cargo area what something is (Meno 60). Knowledge entails an active understanding capable of weathering the rigors of a pro bing discussion. In Lesser Hippeas, Socrates uncovers the knowledge deficit underlying Hippeas opinions and skills. Plato makes a clear bank bill between Hippeas mastery of facts and the possession of true knowledge I surely do not think I am guessing that proper opinion is a different thing from knowledge (90). Facts and opinions require little more than memorization and regurgitation. Acquiring knowledge, on the other hand, can further be done with an effort (Republic 776).Platos Cave analogy in the Republic likens the path to knowledge to the transition from a dark hollow to a sunny hilltop. Plato allegorizes the ascent of the soul (776) from a world of shadows, reflections and half-truths into the world of knowledge (776). Plato maintains that cave dw... ...nt of the reason why (90). Only knowledge boasts longevity. For me, by chance the most disconcerting thing about organic chemistry is the adeptness with which my memory of it has faded. Some three months removed from a final exam, I recall virtually nothing. So why dont we commence knowledge, if it would serve us so much better than limited-warranty opinions? Thinking takes time. And on that point are only fifteen weeks to a semester. profs need empirical measurements of bookman progress in finite periods of time, even when it is clear that cursory thought emasculates knowledge. After all, All late papers will be penalized Professor Richard SchuldenfreiWorks CitedPlato. Five Dialogues Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. Trans G. M. A. Grube.Hackett Publishing Company, 2002.Plato. The Dialogues of Plato. Trans. B. Jowett. New York Random House.