Examined Life: A Unique Perspective Of Human Nature By Plato

Name: Tutor: Course: Examined life Date Plato Understanding human nature has generated several debates among many philosophers; however, Plato presented a unique perspective of human nature using specific allegory that majorly influenced the philosophical beliefs of human beings. Plato’s Republic is one of the articulate stories that brings out the true knowledge of human and nature. Plato's allegory of the cave and the analogy of the divided line highlight how knowledge is gained through philosophical reasoning. Plato believed that it's through form, but not the material world that enables us to be aware of reality (Badiou 241). In the allegory of the cave, Plato demonstrates how humans can gain reality if they manage to break free from the individual's judgment and specific beliefs that blinds them. Through reason, humans can see the new world and realize that they have been controlled by societal beliefs and now knows the truth(Badiou 245). Similarly, when narrating the analogy of the divided line, Plato divides human knowledge into four different categories, to show the different degree of clarity and truth. The two sections of the upper part of the divided line are unequal and represent our thoughts and ideas (Badiou 253). These upper sections of the diagram show knowledge and the realm of intellect that are invisible. The lower section is the second section of the diagram that contains beliefs, imagination and the visible experiences (Badiou 253). Plato defined human existence by the theory of form, according to Plato, ideas exist in the higher form of reality, and this means that the existence of reality is inhibited by forms of all things and concepts (Badiou 248). Similarly, Jean-Paul Sartre in his play, No Exit explores several existentialist themes that revolve around the human existence. In his play, No Exit, Sartre examines several themes of human existence using the three characters Garcin, Inez and Estelle. The three have different views on life. At some point, they seem to accept that they are in Hell using logic reasoning. Garcin admits that he is in hell because he was unkind an unfaithful to his wife. Garcin applied existentialist laws in his reasoning, but at times violates them when he becomes preoccupied with the idea that he is a coward and demand the women to renounce this (Sartre 132). Garcin relies on others for confidence which is not the case with existentialist laws (Sartre 138). Inez believes she is in hell because she had seduced her cousin’s wife. I...