Introduction
One of the most challenging ideologies in life is the understanding of the world around us. As human beings, we all make an effort to understand how we are alive, the purpose of our existence, and what is reality? However, most of us are not confident in trying to understand the truth behind realism. Nevertheless, the question regarding the existence of an absolute truth lingers in the mind of every thinker, and as such, there exists a group of individuals who are interested in matters regarding their lives and what it essentially means. Taking after his mentor Socrates, Plato attempts to understand and pass the knowledge regarding the concept of reality. By trying to get evidence and using relevant examples, he attempts to grasp the philosophy behind the idea which is beyond our perception and sensory intuition. By using the theory of forms, Plato tries to differentiate between what is real and what is not. By understanding the reality of life, an individual’s behavior can be linked to his perceived morality.
Plato’s Concept of Reality
As one of his best ideas and philosophical concept ever raised, Plato’s concern for understanding the truth is a well-known notion. According to him, there exists an apparent truth which exists in a particular place, in a certain sense, and that is; “the reality.” As much as he thought that the absolute truth exists, he seemed unsure as to whether other individuals were aware of such. Moreover, he was doubtful whether they would come to learn of its existence and embrace such truth if they happen to hear of such. Plato was deeply infused by the idea of identifying the concept of truth in his quest to understand reality and its nature[1]. According to him, by considering the form of various elements, it would be easier to idealize different perceptions that we are aware of. To elaborate his ideology, he questioned the ability of a person to identify that a tree is a tree without having to look at two trees at the same time. Similarly, he examined a person’s ability to differentiate between trees and bushes despite the similar form they take.
The concept of ultimate reality implies finality, an element of supremacy by something, and an essential power that supersedes all other truths. Just like his student Aristotle who believed in the ultimate reality, Plato believes in the existence of the absolute truth, hence the presence of a “supreme being,” and a “prime mover” that puts everything in order. The idea is comforting since it entails that there is only one form of truth which subjects every individual in the world. However, the primary challenge facing Plato’s conception is the presence of substantial evidence to support the assertion. For him to state that there existed true forms of a particular standard, Plato came up with the concept of ultimate reality to promote his ideology. By trying to differentiate between a tree and a bush, he notes that we can know trees because of their similar characteristics. However, some trees have features of bushes; thus, to differentiate between the two, there needs to be an absolute truth which guides individuals to identify the dissimilarity (Macintosh 2012).
By believing in the ultimate reality, Plato accepts the notion of the existence of the perfect originator. Thus, there exists an outside force which influences the universe into taking a particular course of action. Therefore, despite the ability of human beings to create items, there exists an ultimate creator. By using the couch as an example, he states that an artist only makes a visionary depiction whereas it is the role of a natural creator from whom the idea comes from and thus, things are born. Furthermore, Plato claims that most things which we can see and touch are only partly real. Therefore, they are a replica of what is factual. However, “the forms”; courage, wisdom, true beauty, and justice are the only true realities. These forms cannot be seen but can be straightforwardly perceived once a person can overcome bodily desires. To him, these forms are divine since they are eternal but are not perfect since they cannot think for themselves nor move. As such, they cannot be compared to, nor replace the “ultimate creator.”
Therefore, as per Plato, the world we live in is a portrayal of some other realm which is the ultimate reality. One can only see past this imitation if he overcomes the desire of the body. Thus, just like the existence of different breeds of cats which fall under one more extensive set, the ultimate reality implies that there are two separate worlds. Also, the extended metaphor of the cave further amplifies his perception of the ultimate truth[2]. The narrative suggests that every person has a moral responsibility to others especially the less fortunate.
Plato’s View of Reality and How It Links to Morality
Plato’s view of the reality influences an individual’s perception of morality since it involves the consideration of a supreme being. With the existence of a creator, there is a high likelihood of the presence of an expected set of behavior. As per his ideology, the elements of justice, courage, self-control and temperance, and the need for every person to be aware of his duties towards others influence morality.
According to Plato, all individuals are gregarious. Since the majority of us prefer to stay in groups and do things together, there is a need for justice to ensure that harmony is maintained. Through the value of truth, a person’s gets informed and guided in his or her moral conduct. However, individuals have different personalities, and as such, there needs to be a laid down set of rules to guide their behavior. It becomes a subject for debate on why particular rules are laid down despite the different views by people.
Nevertheless, people often have an intuition of what is expected of them. The unlearned trite intuition implies the existence of an ultimate truth which guides people into behaving as expected. Therefore, since there is a need for unity among individuals, the need to maintain justice is essential. Moreover, the ultimate reality imparts the duty of care which supports the obligation to uphold justice among all individuals who acknowledge the existence of the creator.
Thus, for a just individual, he or she portrays enlightenment and becomes an agent of moral behavior. By pursuing education and practicing contemplation before taking a particular course of action, a person will be described as good since he exercises justice which is derived from the understanding of the ultimate reality of life. According to Plato, the enlightened man is the best person to be involved in running the government since he practices justice and encourages sound moral values.
In addition to justice, another crucial aspect of expressing and practicing morality is the need for courage. According to Plato, individuals are not only expected to be courageous during periods of war, but the ultimate reality as put forward by Plato also requires that people retain the same spirit during times of sickness and poverty. Also, they should display bravery in their political, judicial, and philosophical life. Moreover, the value is also necessary during times of temptations and pleasures. Thus, by practicing such an amount, people not only display valor when they face pain or are fearful of particular circumstances. For justice to be served, individuals need to express bravery since it will aid them in passing the right information. Often, the interactions between individuals result in severe issues which need to be solved. Thus, it is essential that people correctly understand the actual conflict to make the right deductions. Since we all owe a duty of care to each other, it is only by the understanding of the truth that justice can be served. The concept of ultimate reality implies the existence of an ultimate truth which influences courage that is needed to ensure that the duty of care is correctly observed.
Self-Control and Temperance is another aspect in the lives of individuals which significantly expresses morality. From Plato’s point of view, a moral person is one who has understood the importance of being able to control his or her self to avoid immoral behavior. Since the ultimate reality concept as expressed through the “Forms Theory” implies that there is a supreme being who exists in a state of absolute truth, self-control is a value which can be learned once a person can learn of the ultimate reality. At this stage, an individual can overcome the desires of the body as well as overcoming temptations. By doing so, one becomes similar to the creator and thus, behaves morally right as viewed by people around him.
Conclusion
The concept of ultimate reality as put forward by Plato by using the “Forms Concept” focuses on elaborating on the notion of justice which is the crucial feature of morality. It develops that people can only achieve a decent life if they practice goodness and impartiality just after learning of the ultimate reality of life. By embracing justice, a person is enlightened and thus, able to practice moral values even during periods of severe misfortune. To him, justice is better than injustice. However, to be, one needs to have an understanding of the ultimate reality which guides on what matters in this life.
Bibliography
Macintosh, David. 2012. "Plato: A Theory of Forms." https://philosophynow.org/issues/90/Plato_A_Theory_of_Forms.
Penlighten. 2018. "Synopsis and Interpretation of Plato's Allegory of the Cave." June 18. https://penlighten.com/platos-allegory-of-cave.
Plato. 2002. The Republic. www.idph.com.br/conteudos/ebooks/republic.pdf.
[1]
Macintosh, David. 2012. "Plato: A Theory of Forms." https://philosophynow.org/issues/90/Plato_A_Theory_of_Forms
[2]
Penlighten. 2018. "Synopsis and Interpretation of Plato's Allegory of the Cave." June 18. https://penlighten.com/platos-allegory-of-cave.
