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Plato and Descartes - Methods of Philosophy

            When looking and examining both Plato and Descartes method of philosophy, we can see that both had similarities and differences to their approach. Both Plato and Descartes approaches conclude that knowledge must be what is certain and opinions or other ideas are what must be uncertain. They both believed that the mind and body are separate from each other and that the mind is immortal. We see this come to life with Plato in our reading of Phaedo. Socrates (Plato) believed that the body is attached to the soul but that the soul can live independently from the body. He even goes as far as to say that the body drags the soul around, confusing the soul with its senses keeping it from completely knowing what is certain. The only way that the soul finds what is certain (wisdom and Knowledge) is through separation from the body. This is where we find out why he does not fear death for that death only allows the soul to be freed and to gain what is truly certain. We also see the belief that the mind and body are separate come to life with Descartes after reading Meditation Two. Here we come to find that Descartes was for certain that he could not doubt that his mind (soul) existed separate from his body. That was in part to the certainty that he was a thinking thing. He also concludes that his mind knows more then his body in part to the conclusion that what he does doubt comes from only from the mind and not from the senses. Where we can see a difference is in their actual approach to find what must be certain. Descartes uses methodological method to cast doubt on what he felt was not certain. He then rebuilt his foundation of knowledge with himself as the base of his views. He knew for certain that he was a thinking thing; therefore he is certain that he exist, "I think, therefore I am". Plato uses his Elenchus to examine the true nature or "Form" of all that exist, Ti Esti.


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