6. Arguments for the existence of the soul, Part IV; Plato, Part I

Death (PHIL 176)

The lecture begins with a continued discussion of the Cartesian argument and its weaknesses. The lecture then turns to Plato's metaphysical views in the context of his work, Phaedo. The key point in the discussion is the idea that in addition to the ordinary empirical world that we are familiar with, we posit the existence of a second realm in which the Platonic forms exist. These forms are the abstract properties that we attribute to physical objects, such as beauty, justice, goodness and so on. Since it is the soul that conceives of these Platonic forms and ideas, Plato argues that the soul not only outlives the body but lasts forever. It is perfect, immaterial and indestructible.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Summary of the Cartesian Argument
04:57 - Chapter 2. Refuting the Cartesian Argument: The Morning and Evening Stars
19:25 - Chapter 3. Platonic Forms and the Immortality of the Soul
31:27 - Chapter 4. Conclusion

Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu

This course was recorded in Spring 2007.