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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 5 page paper presents some of the ideas of each Plato and St. Augustine regarding human nature. In so doing, the essay compares and contrasts these thoughts. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
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5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: MM12_PGplaghn.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
immaterial things and thus, it does not decay as the body, a material thing. The soul, therefore exists after death. Socrates then addresses the issue of whether or not the
soul exists before birth, i.e., pre-existence, and he talks about the myth of recollection. Socrates argued that the soul knows perfection during its pre-existence. Perfection, to Plato through Socrates, is
the "Forms." Humans, or the soul, forget this knowledge when they are born. The right kind of education, however, can help the soul remember what was previously learned. This allows
humans to think of things like perfect circles even through they cannot draw them. As a side note, this theory or pre-knowledge can be found in Jungs theory of archetypes.
The first part of Platos theory of human nature, found in Phaedo, then can be summarized: humans consist of body and soul, body is material, soul is immaterial, soul
exists prior to human birth and exists following the bodys physical death. Plato develops the second and third parts of his theory of human nature in The Republic. Again, the
theory is developed through Socrates discussions with others. The discussion focuses on whether being just or unjust is better. The discussion has three parts: justice in the state, justice in
the individual and a definition of justice. There are three classes for the state to function properly: artisans, who are skilled laborers; guardians who enforce the law; and philosopher-ruler who
looks out for the good of all and directs harmonious interactions between and among the classes. The philosopher-ruler must be very well-educated and they must be fair and wise. Within
the discussions, Plato presents three parts of the soul: appetite, which are desires for humans basic needs and which motivates actions; spirit, which is courage and bravery and which helps
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