Philospphy Phaedo Is Centered on

Philospphy Phaedo is centered on the idea according to which the soul is immortal. There are four general arguments that Plato uses to justify this idea: the opposites argument, the theory of recollection, the affinity argument and the argument from form of life. The first argument draws upon the rational argument according to which the soul acts as the body's opposite and, in this quality, carries all the opposite characteristics of the body. These include the fact that the soul must be immortal, since the body is perishable and mortal.

The soul also acts as the instrument that brings life to forms. The Affinity Argument is constructed along similar lines, with the opposition and antithesis between body and soul, one mortal, the other immortal. The Theory of Recollection is centered on the existence of knowledge at birth, some instinctual form of knowledge that Plato argues is passed on through the existence, which proves its immortality. In my opinion, Plato uses some truisms and transforms them in arguments for something that cannot be proved rationally.

The souls immortality is not depending on the fact that knowledge is present in the individual at birth, which can be explained in many different other means as well. The soul's immortality is more of an individual belief in this. 2. One can probably argue that Eastern and Western systems of philosophy differ, at most, in the way they interpret things, although the basic premises and the main questions that each of the systems asks is similar.

For example, both systems are centered around basic ideas such as the individual and his existence, his role on this Earth and his relationship with the Divinity. At the same time, many of the Western philosophers incorporated into their own writing Eastern principles of philosophy, which comes to strengthen the idea according to which the differences are mainly in approach and style rather than in the fundamental, profound issues.

Hegel had Taoism influence his writings, while other German philosophers such as Schopenhauer used many of the Hinduism's philosophies and beliefs to create their systems. So, the most appropriate conclusion for this point would be that there is definitely a point of congruence between the Eastern and Western philosophies, which makes them less different in their substantial beliefs than one might initially think, given the differences in environments and societies. 3. The dialogue between Croesus and Solon gives perhaps a better idea of Aristotle's perspective on happiness.

The main idea that one can understand from this story is that happiness can be concluded referring to an individual only when his life has been completed. This is because at that point, one will have the necessary facts to be able to arrive to such a conclusion. This means that happiness is a final objective in itself, a quest by individuals who try to be happy all the way to their death, including in the way they pass away and the way they live their lives.

Throughout life, Aristotle points out, one can only say that he is fortunate rather than happy, which is a conclusion that can be drawn only at the very end. On the other hand, a rational being contemplates its existence and path to happiness. Its contemplation is part of the final happiness at the end of one's life. 4. The first thing worth pointing out is that Augustine's conversion is followed by his dedication of his life to the intellectual and spiritual conversion and enlightenment of other individuals.

This means that the focus shifts from his own personality to the personalities of the individuals around him. His approach tends to move from the simplified to the complex and encompass the debates, doubts and questions that individuals have and that he himself may have encountered before his intellectual and spiritual conversion. With his approach, he wants other individual to follow on his footsteps.