Platonic Views

Plato proposed a ‘dualistic’ view of the human being, asserting that humans are composed of two fundamental elements: a tangible, decomposable body and an eternal, immutable soul.
According to Plato, the soul predates the body and is responsible for our intellect and reason. It is the ‘real’ self, temporarily confined to the mortal body, but enduring after the body perishes.
The philosopher suggested three parts of the soul: the rational, spirited, and appetitive. The rational part pursues wisdom, the spirited part aims for honour, and the appetitive part craves materialist pleasures.
Plato described the soul as being trapped in the body, comparing it to an oyster within its shell. He believed that through knowledge and virtue, the soul could ‘remember’ its original form and transcend the physical world upon death.
Plato’s theory of the ‘Forms’ is also pertinent to his views on the soul. He held that the soul, before its incarnation in the body, dwells in the realm of the Forms, a place of perfect, eternal truths.
The philosopher contended that the soul returns to the realm of the Forms after death, especially if it has made strides towards wisdom and virtue during its bodily existence.
Plato’s views on the soul, mind and body have influenced countless thinkers, notably disciples such as Aristotle, and continue to prompt philosophical discussion today.
Learning about Platonic theories helps illuminate contrasting views too. For instance, materialists argue against his dualistic perspective, holding instead that humans are entirely physical beings.
Understanding Plato’s views also offers insights into cultural and historical perspectives on the soul, mind and body, with his ideas having shaped many Western beliefs about the afterlife and the nature of the soul.