PLATO - MIND

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>PLATO</FONT><BR> THE IDEALIST</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Mind over Matter</B></FONT><P> <TABLE ALIGN=Left BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=2 CELLPADDING=1> <TR> <TD><IMG ALIGN=Left SRC="0407a.jpg" WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="259" ALT="DELPHIC CHARIOTEER"></TD> </TR> </TABLE> Classical art presented an image of perfection. Many human figures were of idealised human beings rather than of actual individuals. This figure of the charioteer portrays nothing of the frantic chase or competition that chariot races involved. Rather it portrays an ideal of manly beauty and mastery of self as well as beast. Plato's <A HREF="../t03/g024.html" TARGET="_top">idealism</A> is in keeping this same classical outlook while <A HREF="../05/05f01.html" TARGET="_top">Aristotle's</A> philosophy is more in keeping with the Hellenistic style of art and thinking.<P> Just as the form of an ideal human body could be portrayed in art, Plato could envisage an ideal form of all objects or ideas. These forms were perfect and universal and hence a higher level of reality than the perceived world of objects. It is well to remember that Plato was not a Platonist. Nowhere in his writings is his Theory of Forms analysed and elaborated. That was done by his followers. It was later speculation that exaggerated the dualistic distinction between the idea and the thing itself much criticized by Aristotle. Plato's idealism and his belief that reality is best approached through reason continues to be an inspiration to many. <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>