Single Idea 9274

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / b. Types of good]

Full Idea

Plato's legacy to European thought was a trio of capital letters - the Good, the Beautiful and the True.

Gist of Idea

Plato's legacy to European thought was the Good, the Beautiful and the True

Source

report of Plato (works [c.375 BCE]) by John Gray - Straw Dogs 2.8

Book Reference

Gray,John: 'Straw Dogs' [Granta 2002], p.57


A Reaction

It seems to have been Baumgarten who turned this into a slogan (Idea 8117). Gray says these ideals are lethal, but I identify with them very strongly, and am quite happy to see the good life as an attempt to find the right balance between them.

Related Idea

Idea 8117 Perfection comes through the senses (Beauty), through reason (Truth), and through moral will (Good) [Baumgarten, by Tolstoy]