Plato’s main argument is that souls are immortal and responsible for the recollection of knowledge. He uses the example of recollection to show that souls are immortal and existed before a human is born by mentioning instances in which people can recollect knowledge that they have never been conversant with. Plato states, “If a man, when he has heard or seen or in any other way perceived a thing, knows not only that thing, but also has a perception of some other thing, the knowledge of which is not the same, but different, are we not right in saying that he recollects the thing of which he has the perception?” (Plato 1). This claim functions in the larger society by helping people understand the truth about fundamental challenges involving beauty, knowledge, love, and existence. People are likely to behave depending on the previous souls that they have inhabited. This is evident because when the body and soul are combined, the body serves as the master, and the soul has to obey and observe (Plato 4). The main consequence of adopting this is that people’s actions may be blamed on their souls rather than themselves because their souls have to control them.
Plato gives sufficient evidence to support his main argument. He states, “the souls existed previously, before they were in human form, apart from bodies, and they had intelligence” (Plato 4). In supporting that souls existed before humans are born, he gives proof that souls acquired knowledge before they were in human form. That is why these souls can define things such as beauty, and this is always compared to their previous inferences, which shows that the souls existed before. Another example to support that souls existed before is that people are born with instincts of good and bad even without being taught in society or school. For instance, when a small child touches fire, they are likely to determine that it burns and hurts and therefore know that it is bad to touch fire. This shows that there is an instinct in a person that helps them make decisions on good and bad things for them. Another example is when a child is given something sweet to taste, they will generally like it without consulting anyone, and this is because their soul guides them, and it also knows the definition of sweet. This shows that souls being immortal is very functional and realistic.
In supporting the second claim of recollection of knowledge, he gives the example of the cloak and lurk and how they remind someone of their loved ones. Plato states, “Well, you know that a lover when he sees a lyre or a cloak or anything else which his beloved is wont to use, perceives the lyre and in his mind receives an image of the boy to whom the lyre belongs, do you not?” (Plato 1). This example shows that knowledge is a recollection of thoughts triggered by various events. Another example that can support Plato’s theory is that when a person is given a word vocabulary to name pictures of certain animals, they are stuck, giving them a clue, which may be the first letter that may help them recall the whole name. This shows that minds are triggered by seeing, hearing, or sensing to remember things that they have known in the past. Therefore, it is agreeable that souls are immortal, and they existed before humans are born and proven, and that is why humans can recollect knowledge that they have never interacted with within their entire life when exposed to it because it enables them to remember.
Plato’s argument for soul immortality and knowledge recollection is sound and valid. Plato gives clear and precise examples of how knowledge is recollected through different examples of the cloak, enslaved person, and even equality. Regarding the example of a cloak, it is true that when a mind is exposed to an instrument that it has seen before, it is most likely to recall things associated with the instrument. This shows that when the mind is also directed through previous events, it can recollect knowledge that existed before the person was born. Therefore, it is correct and valid to say that since people can remember and get right some things they have never interacted with before, their soul must have existed in the previous world, and it helps them recollect knowledge. A real-life example is that when given the right directions, some people can operate machines they have never operated in their whole life. This may indicate that their souls can recollect knowledge of these machines and remember how to operate them, making Plato’s claim sound and valid.
Despite the proof of the soul helping individuals recollect knowledge, Plato provides a weak argument on how the soul can be re-used from one individual to another. According to his theory, when people die, their souls are re-used by other people or creatures depending on the previous holders’ actions. Therefore the soul is always trapped in the body and cannot leave until a person dies. However, it is unclear how the soul can move from one person to another based on the actions of the previous holder. Based on the Christian religion, each soul is accountable to one person, and therefore each shall be judged according to the deeds of those persons here on earth. This shows that each individual has one soul, which is permanently theirs, and even after death, it awaits judgment day and is not transferred to another body. The other argument that makes Plato’s points weak is that if souls were re-generated, the world population would not increase or decrease since the souls do not die. Therefore, his claims are not able to explain the increasing global population. This shows that Plato’s theory still has some weaknesses.
In reply to the first objection about souls having to be judged based on the actions of their bodies, it can be argued that when the body dies, the soul has to undergo punishment or reward based on the actions of the previous holder before they are trapped in the next body. The second weakness of the world’s population is that there are an infinite number of souls in space, which allows humans to reproduce as much as they want. Therefore, when each body is born, a soul accompanies it.
To sum up, it is true that when people die, their souls continue to live. However, this does not mean that they will be re-used in other individuals or creatures because they have to be accountable for the individuals they were assigned to. On the other hand, I agree with Plato that knowledge is a recollection of already existing factors; however, he should have explained how the soul gains that knowledge.
Work Cited
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 1 translated by Harold North Fowler; Introduction by W.R.M. Lamb. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1966