Plato's Theory of Forms- Do you think think there is objective truth?
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Plato's Theory of Forms- Do you think think there is objective truth?
Do you believe that all truth is relative or do you believe that there are objective truths for everything?
For example, Plato indicates that once a person comes to understand and know the forms (ex: Beauty, goodness, redness, sweetness etc.) you have reached the highest degree of education and knowledge/understanding.
In my opinion, each of us has a different and subjective view of the world, and perhaps each of us sees the forms differently. For example, my view of what is beauty is might be different than your view. However, I also wonder if some of us are just wrong in our views of these forms, and that there is in fact an objective truth. How do we come to know this objective truth? To me, it seems that there can be no way to find an objective truth, unless we found a way to throw away all of our biases and view the world through an objective eye (this seems impossible to me).
What are your views on relative truth vs. objective truth, and do you think the forms are absolute?
For example, Plato indicates that once a person comes to understand and know the forms (ex: Beauty, goodness, redness, sweetness etc.) you have reached the highest degree of education and knowledge/understanding.
In my opinion, each of us has a different and subjective view of the world, and perhaps each of us sees the forms differently. For example, my view of what is beauty is might be different than your view. However, I also wonder if some of us are just wrong in our views of these forms, and that there is in fact an objective truth. How do we come to know this objective truth? To me, it seems that there can be no way to find an objective truth, unless we found a way to throw away all of our biases and view the world through an objective eye (this seems impossible to me).
What are your views on relative truth vs. objective truth, and do you think the forms are absolute?
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I think that truth is relative for some things and absolute for other things. The real question is, since so many people look at reality subjectively, is it even relevant that there is an objective way to see things? If a small minority of people actually look at things objectively, does it even matter that they're right when the majority disagree?
I'm hoping it is. Not that I claim to be an objective person in most things.
Right and wrong...is there an absolute right and wrong? I don't think so, because situations change. It seems absolutely wrong to stab a little girl to death while she's playing with her doll. However, if that would somehow prevent an atomic bomb from being detonated in a large city, is it then right, or only justifiable? I know the decision I would make normally, it's obvious that if you think about the situation objectively it's justifiable to kill the little girl. What if it's your little girl? I wouldn't do it even if 100 cities would be vaporized.
I'm hoping it is. Not that I claim to be an objective person in most things.
Right and wrong...is there an absolute right and wrong? I don't think so, because situations change. It seems absolutely wrong to stab a little girl to death while she's playing with her doll. However, if that would somehow prevent an atomic bomb from being detonated in a large city, is it then right, or only justifiable? I know the decision I would make normally, it's obvious that if you think about the situation objectively it's justifiable to kill the little girl. What if it's your little girl? I wouldn't do it even if 100 cities would be vaporized.
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This really depends on the strictness of the definition of relative. I would say some truths are absolute. Example, it's absolutely true that a force we call gravity exists. The crayon that I see as red, however, is not red to everyone.