Why was Plato a rationalist?

Why was Plato a rationalist?

Plato is a rationalist because he thinks that we have innate knowledge of the Forms [mathematical objects and concepts (triangles, equality, largeness), moral concepts (goodness, beauty, virtue, piety), and possibly color – he doesn’t ever explicitly state that there are Forms of colors].

What is Plato’s system of philosophy?

Students of Plato and other ancient philosophers divide philosophy into three parts: Ethics, Epistemology and Metaphysics. Since, according to Plato (and Socrates), virtue and happiness require knowledge, e.g., knowledge of goods and evils, Plato’s ethics is inseparable from his epistemology.

Which philosopher is a rationalist?

The first philosophers who are today referred to as having been rationalists include Descartes (1596-1650), Leibniz (1646-1716), and Spinoza (1632-1677). These thinkers thought they were defending a form of rational thought in the form of a science against the older school of thought known as scholasticism.

Which ancient Greek philosopher is described as a rationalist?

Ancient Greek Rationalism: The first rationalist in Western Philosophy was the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Plato was monumentally important in the history of philosophy. Quiz 3 will focus entirely on Plato’s philosophy. Rationalism in epistemology is the view that knowledge does not come from the senses.

Why did Plato engage in philosophy?

Engaging in philosophical inquiry can bolster our ability to think deeply about our beliefs, commitments, and values; critically evaluate our own assumptions; construct sound and valid arguments; and evaluate the arguments of others.

Was Socrates empiricist or rationalist?

While empiricism seems to be the somewhat earlier form, it was rationalism that made Greek philosophy famous, since the classical period, symbolized by the names of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, must be regarded as representing a philosophic rationalism.

Was Thomas Aquinas a rationalist?

Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225–74) was an impressive attempt to blend Greek rationalism and Christian revelation into a single harmonious system.

Was Augustine a rationalist?

Augustine, a thoroughgoing rationalist. The Stoic common notions, Augustine held, are truths that God has implanted in the human mind through direct illumination.