more from Plato

Single Idea 9862

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / c. Becoming]

Full Idea

Philosophers must rise up out of becoming and grasp being, if they are ever to become rational.

Gist of Idea

To become rational, philosophers must rise from becoming into being

Source

Plato (The Republic [c.374 BCE], 525b)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.1142


A Reaction

I am never quite sure what 'being' means in such contexts, and it seems suffused with mysticism. In Plato's case, it is obviously related to what is unchanging, but why would something lack 'being', just because it underwent change?