What Is The Best Way To Gain Knowledge (Analysis of Plato's and Heraclitus's Theories)

📌Category: Education, Learning, Philosophical Theories, Philosophy, Plato, Writers
📌Words: 630
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 10 February 2022

Plato and Heraclitus both discuss similar ways of acquiring knowledge but in different contexts that poses the question: What is the best way to gain knowledge? For Plato knowledge is conditioned by the forms and his approach emphasizes how it is possible to acquire knowledge through intangibility. As for Heraclitus, understanding logos is what can enable us to reach knowledge. Heraclitus presents a stronger argument than Plato’s, whose theory of knowledge as an unchanging truth can be refuted. Knowledge is always changing and new information is discovered everyday, therefore implying that it is unchanging is contradictory and untrue. 

In Book VI of the Republic, Socrates addresses the Forms of "the Good," as the greatest aspect of knowledge. In Socrates's dialogue with Glaucon, Socrates gives a feeble and obscure definition of the form of “the good” and compares it to the sun. The sun could be described as one of the primary sources for creation just as the Form of the Good is said to be the source of all other forms. It is seen as an intelligible realm of our cognitive capacity to know. Understanding the forms requires the application of pure abstract reasoning rather than the use of visuals and unsubstantiated assumptions as it is not a good basis for knowledge as it has no depth. According to Plato only by grasping the Form of the Good can the highest level of understanding be obtained. 

"Eyes and ears are bad witnesses to people if they have barbarian souls," (Fragment B107, Heraclitus Of Ephesus)  In other words, Heraclitus states that sensation is not enough for us to gain true knowledge. This quote from Heraclitus “The accumulation of facts without insight into the divine law-like workings of the cosmos is useless." ( Heraclitus Of Ephesus 39) truly grasps the message conveyed by Plato's allegory of the cave where they share commonalities in denigrating sensuous experiences. In Plato's allegory of the cave the shadows cast by the puppeteers on the wall signify the perception of empirical thinkers, and demonstrates how reliant we are on our senses as a source of evidence which hinders the actual pursuit of knowledge. 

(B12) Upon those who step into the same rivers, different and again different waters flow.(Arius Didymus, fr. 39.2 = Dox. Gr. 471.4-5)

(B91) [It is not possible to step twice into the same river]. . . . It

scatters and again comes together, and approaches and recedes.

(Plutarch, On the E at Delphi 392b). In these quotes, although abstract, I believe them to mean that the universe is always changing and that no two situations are the same just as knowledge through generations can alway be built upon as well therefore we must establish our own opinions outside of what is pushed upon us; we must renounce what "is" and seek out the truth for ourselves. Of all the fragments this  stood out to me the most as it establishes that knowledge is truly dependent on understanding because when one understands something they can make/have a factual opinion on the matter. All other truths are left to opinion since only eternal, changing truths can be the subjects of knowledge. Whenever it relates towards the visible realm, the domain of perceptible specifics, opinions are the highest type of assurance we can aspire for.

After further analysis on the Form of  “the Good ''  and Heraclitus's description of the logos where he defines it as nature being guided and unified by a divine pattern. I have come to the conclusion that while Plato and Heraclitus have similarities when it comes to the context in which knowledge derives from such as, knowledge being a metaphysical construct and overcoming the insignificance of the senses. Their interpretation  of these theories is what sets them apart from each other. Considering that the forms are eternal and unchangeable there’s a certain limit to knowing them whereas despite the logos being eternal it is open to change and variation making it better than the latter it shows a more complex relationship with change than the forms as knowledge should be progressive and developmental.

+
x
Remember! This is just a sample.

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

Order now
By clicking “Receive Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails.