Plato’s Theory of Knowledge, A Guide to Reaching Higher Grounds Essay

The human knowledge may be regarded as having a two parts: One that he sees hears and touches, on the other he organizes mind s on what he learns through the senses. Philosophers have given considerable attentions to questions about the resources of knowledge. Some philosophers think that that the particular thing seen, heard and touches are more important. They believe that general ideas are formed from the examination of the particular facts. A philosopher who feels that the knowledge is acquired in this way is called empiricist. The view of the knowledge can be attained only through the sense of experience. According to them the real knowledge is based on what our sight, hearing smell and other senses tell us it is really out there and not what people makes up in their heads. Other philosopher thinks it is more important to find a general law according to which particular facts can be understood or judge. This method advocates rationalist. A newer school pragmatism, believe that the value in use is the real test of the truth and meaning and truth of an idea are tested by the practical consequences. These are some of the groups that search about the roots of the theory of knowledge. When a person wants to be enlightened you must know what the light within us is. This light will guide us in every step of our lives. It is a process on what is greater than life, what is greater in the physical things that we see. It is the moment when we begin to know something that is greater than, which is also within ourselves. According to the Augustinian Theory of knowledge, there are two objectives to be considered. One is to show how knowledge of all kinds is achieved and how therefore true reality maybe discovered. The second is to provide the groundwork for the reform of the cultural education to ensure the proper development of the people through teaching knowledge. Inner awakening is that you follow your ego, but after you realize and enlightened, we follow god’s will. We as a person must know and search ways to be enlightened. Enlightenment is the aim of any person. But after you get this enlightened don’t fear that you will loose everything. You must enjoy things more passionate but you know when and how and do not abuse your power of enjoyment like you did before enlighten. The theory of knowledge gives us a guide on how human reach the higher level of enlightenment. It gives us the one by one step and details on how knowledge is acquire. Plato a great philosopher considers some of the details about what is the nature of knowledge and the way it was obtained. In the traditional analysis of knowledge Plato’s theory of knowledge divides into three approaches: (1) the allegory of â€Å"the cave† (2) the metaphor of the â€Å"divide line† (3) and the doctrines â€Å"the forms†. The cave tells us that most of the people who are living in the cave, in the dark has converted to salvation because of the knowledge that they acquire. The â€Å"divided line† visualizes the levels of knowledge in a more systematic way. Plato states that there are four stages of the knowledge development. (1) Imagining, which tells us that the looks or appearance seen as true reality. For example an art, which tells us that what we have seen is not necessarily what, you get. (2) Belief, Plato gives us the idea of seeing the reality does not always believe. We have the strong conviction of what we see but not with absolute certainty. (3) Thinking, it is believe the visible world and move into intelligible world which it stands for the power of mind. Plato wants to see all things as they really are so we can see that all things are interconnected. (4) The development stage of the knowledge due to thinking. The third Approach is â€Å"the Forms† are the highest levels of reality. The forms are called ideas. These are independent existing entities whose existence and nature are graspable only by the mind, even though they are not depend on being so grasped in order to exist A person is in then stage of immaturity, when theory of knowledge takes place he will undergo such different stages like at first he will see what is the source and problem of its immaturity understanding what is immaturity will mean a process that under go such enlightenment. After understanding and knowing the problem he will go to the next stage which is by visualizing the level of knowledge of being immature. He can have a research or he can conduct a qouestion and answer so that he can get some opinion so that it can help a lot in defining the problem of being immature. For instance, what distinguishes real knowledge from mere opinion? The real knowledge is based on the logic, the laws and the methods of reason that we use to understand the universe (Velasquez, 1999) By getting such knowledge and analyzing of what category or level he can create a new solution in order of getting out of being immature.Thingking of the possible solution and ideas is the last satge of getting out of being immature.This process or step of solving ones problem is an example of theory of knowledge which can be apply to enlightenment.In any of the different stages they are interconnected to one another so that it can create a good solution which enlightens on a person. There is a given change of such enlightenment. For Parmenides, Change is the confusion of the appearance (motion) with reality (permanence) and therefore the change is simply an illusion. Reality is the basis of truth (knowledge) where as changes produces only opinion (lack of knowledge). Although the senses tells us that the things appear to change and therefore things do change, our reason can distinguish the truth from that which appear to be true. When reasons say reality must be single permanent substances, then there can be no change. (Hankinson, 1998) Plato’s theory of knowledge leads us down many roads, but we see the same theme through out: the light to dark; ignorant to educate: reality to really real.The theory of knowledge imparts us that in every circumstances in life there is a solution. In every situation that we have there is an appropriate answer. Having a knowledge or education gives us the true meaning of reality and real.That is when enlightenment takes place. When we have already the knowledge and reasons we know now how to handle and solve on any situation that we have.   Enlightenment is one of important part in our life to have a sense of direction. If we can apply the the different stages of theory of knowledge and integrate it   to its process of enl;ightenment there is a good way that humanities can have the truth , the reality, and the essence of having a knowledge.Believing to the knowledge that we have and through by the grace we can struggle and survive in any situation that we have. Velasquez, Manuel â€Å"Philosophy: A text with readings†. New York: Wadsworth publishing company, 1999. Hankinson, RJ.† Cause and Explanation in Ancient Greek Thought†. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998. â€Å"Human Knowledge and Human Nature: A new introduction to an Ancient Debate† Oxford University Press, 1992   ISBN 0-19-875101-X ISBN 0-19-875102-8 (pbk.) http://www.philosophy.umd.edu/Faculty/pcarruthers/HKHN-Conclusion.htm â€Å"Augustinian Knowledge Of theory† http://www.users.bigpond.com/seckington/Augustinian%20Knowledge.htm â€Å"What is Enlightenment ?† (â€Å"Qu’est-ce que les Lumià ¨res ?†), in Rabinow (P.), à ©d., The Foucault Reader, New York, Pantheon Books, 1984, pp. 32-50. http://foucault.info/documents/whatIsEnlightenment/foucault.whatIsEnlightenment.en.html