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Single Idea 174

[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 1. Justification / b. Need for justification ]

Full Idea

There is a state of mind half-way between wisdom and ignorance - having true opinions without being able to give reasons for them.

Gist of Idea

True opinion without reason is midway between wisdom and ignorance

Source

Plato (The Symposium [c.384 BCE], 202a)

Book Ref

Plato: 'The Symposium', ed/tr. Hamilton,W [Penguin 1951], p.80

A Reaction

Compare Idea 2140, where Plato scorns this state of mind. What he describes could be split into two - purely lucky true beliefs, and 'externalist knowledge', with non-conscious justification.

Related Idea

Idea 2140 True belief without knowledge is like blind people on the right road [Plato]

The 19 ideas from 'The Symposium'

14177 Love assists men in achieving merit and happiness [Plato]
170 The only slavery which is not dishonourable is slavery to excellence [Plato]
171 Music is a knowledge of love in the realm of harmony and rhythm [Plato]
172 Love of ugliness is impossible [Plato]
173 Beauty and goodness are the same [Plato]
174 True opinion without reason is midway between wisdom and ignorance [Plato]
14178 Happiness is secure enjoyment of what is good and beautiful [Plato]
175 Gods are not lovers of wisdom, because they are already wise [Plato]
176 Love follows beauty, wisdom is exceptionally beautiful, so love follows wisdom [Plato]
177 If a person is good they will automatically become happy [Plato]
179 Love is desire for perpetual possession of the good [Plato]
4026 Beauty is harmony with what is divine, and ugliness is lack of such harmony [Plato]
180 We call a person the same throughout life, but all their attributes change [Plato]
181 Only the gods stay unchanged; we replace our losses with similar acquisitions [Plato]
14179 The finest branch of wisdom is justice and moderation in ordering states and families [Plato]
182 The first step on the right path is the contemplation of physical beauty when young [Plato]
1607 Diotima said the Forms are the objects of desire in philosophical discourse [Plato, by Roochnik]
183 Stage two is the realisation that beauty of soul is of more value than beauty of body [Plato]
184 Progress goes from physical beauty, to moral beauty, to the beauty of knowledge, and reaches absolute beauty [Plato]