Nobody wants to be a
fool. The only way to escape foolishness is to pursue wisdom, and so each of
us, in one way or another whether we realize it or not, seeks to find wisdom. However,
we do not all have the same concept of wisdom and so we chase after it in
different ways peculiar to our view. Plato believes in the existence of
absolute truth and calls it the “essential Form of Goodness” (231). He hopes
that exposing us to this Form of Goodness, this pure truth, will straighten out
our view of life and give us a new way to live. For Plato, wisdom is an accurate
understanding, one based on our own personal experience, of the “essential Form
of Goodness” that produces in us a revitalized life built on our change of
perspective.
Plato acknowledges that
his understanding of absolute truth is limited, but he still believes in its
existence. He states, “Heaven knows whether it is true; but this, at any rate,
is how it appears to me” (231). Here we can see a basic philosophy that truth
can exist regardless of our knowledge of it. Just because he thinks his
reasoning to be correct does not mean that it is. This is why he advocates the seeking
of wisdom; a complete comprehension of the “essential Form of Goodness” is
always beyond our grasp yet we should absorb every bit of it that we can so our
lives will be more and more closely oriented to that truth. Maturity is the
ability to view truth “as it is in itself in its own domain” (230). Plato sees
this truth objectively; he knows that he cannot influence or change it. His
opinion of the truth may be in error but this does not affect the truth itself.
Truth is so hard to see
and act upon wisely because we must change to fit its mold yet we resist
change. Like the prisoners who “would recognize as reality nothing but the
shadows of those artificial objects” (229), we often reject chances to
understand truth more fully. This is simply because the bounds of our ability
to reason are too small at the time of the opportunity. If we were to gaze
suddenly upon the fullness of truth then we would be so blinded as to see
nothing, disbelieve its veracity, and then turn back to our old ways. In the
end, we would be far worse off because we would become callous to the truth.
Having falsely experienced it once, we would immediately reject any further experiences.
Plato believes that we must become “enlightened or unenlightened” in “degrees”
(227) if we are ever to attain to a full understanding of the truth. We must
grow into it.
We cannot hoard our
newfound wisdom if we are to be truly mature. Once we have found out a broader
view of the truth, we must not keep it to ourselves, but, instead, we should
use that new perspective on life to lead others wisely. Plato argues that true
leaders are those who could leave and be better off, yet they choose to stay
and lead for the benefit of those below them. (235) “So whom else can you
compel to undertake the guardianship of the commonwealth, if not those who,
besides understanding best the principles of government, enjoy a nobler life
than the politician’s and look for rewards of a different kind?” If leaders are
in love with their positions of leadership, then they are not fit to lead
because then they will begin to contend among themselves for the office rather
than using the office for the benefit of the populace.
Plato understands
wisdom to be the “virtue of some diviner faculty, which never loses its power,
though its use for good or harm depends on the direction towards which it is
turned” (233). Our ability to reason can be used to harm or for good depending
on where it faces. Wisdom is the compelling of our reason lead us into right
living based on our understanding of the “essential Form of Goodness.” It is
not the “essential Form of Goodness” which morphs, but our subjective knowledge
of it. We must be exposed to this truth incrementally rather than suddenly,
lest we reject it because of our limitations. Once we have found the truth, then
we must use that newfound wisdom for the benefit of our fellow citizens. We humble
ourselves to return to those void of wisdom and patiently, slowly expose them
to the truth so that they can live with new meaning as well.
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