Platonic Dualism versus Atman

762 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Concept of dualism

Dualism Vs Atman
“What is really real?“ is a question that one has pondered at some point in his or her life. When this question is proposed many basic things become a complex never ending winding staircase of unsolved mysteries. Two philosophers who sought to find the answer were Plato and Shankara. Plato is found in history as one of Socrates star pupil and can be said to be one of the greatest philosophers in western philosophy. Shankara was commonly known throughout Indian philosophy. The two philosophers developed two ways of thinking: Plato Dualism and Shankara the concept of Atman. These two ways of thinking are alike but different in numerous ways.
Platonic dualism can be defined as a metaphysical theory that two fundamentally different things, usually characterized as mind and matter (body), are real. # In our reality we have physical things such as rocks, light, electricity and our own brains. But since there are physical things there are mental things also such as ideas, sensations, spirits and Gods. According to dualism, humans consists of two parts: body and soul. Our soul has the power of thought which is considered the most powerful thing. For instance, lets say we always look at people for their physical attributes, we may see the person as attractive, their body features are perfect for us but if we fail to look at the other half which is their mental being then we are deceived by looks in the end. If all we do is look at things physical then we can assume the wrong idea.
Shankara’s Concept of Atman is the Hindu notion of True Self or pure consciousness or the Brahman within. Atman has five sheaths unlike dualism whom has two parts. The five sheaths of Atman are: 1.) the bodily self consisting the essence of ...

... middle of paper ...

...l?” comes from within. A person can not determine what’s really real until they look at everything from a physical and mental point and comes to accept things not for how they are physically but how they are mentally. Not one theory can describe what’s really real because how do we ourselves know what is really real.

Works Cited

Kessler, Gary E. “Glossary.” Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader. Belmont: Wadsworth Pub, 2010. 612. Print.

Kessler, Gary E. “Nondualism.” Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader. Belmont: Wadsworth Pub, 2010. 431. Print.

Kessler, Gary E. “Nondualism.” Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader. Belmont: Wadsworth Pub, 2010. 430. Print.

Kessler, Gary E. “The Crest Jewel of Discrimination.” Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader. Belmont: Wadsworth Pub, 2010. 432. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Chapter Summary Of 'Problems From Philosophy' By James Rachels

    752 Words  | 2 Pages

    In chapter ten of the book “Problems from Philosophy”, by James Rachels, the author, the author discusses the possibilities of human beings living in an actually reality, or if we are just living in an illusion. Rachels guides us through concepts that try to determine wiether we are living in a world were our perception of reality is being challenged, or questioned. Rachels guides us through the topic of “Our Knowledge of the World around Us”, through the Vats and Demons, idealism, Descartes Theological Response, and direct vs. indirect realism.

    Read More

  • Understanding the the Romantic Imagination with Ramond, Wordsworth and Shelley

    1937 Words  | 4 Pages

    "The way to find the 'real' world is not merely to measure and observe what is

    Read More

  • The Mind as a Function of the Body by Richard Taylor

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    Richard Taylor explained why the body and the mind are one, and why they are not two separate substances. In the article “The Mind as a Function of the Body”, Taylor divides his article in a number of sections and explains clearly why dualism, or the theory that the mind and the body are separate is not conceivable. In one of these sections it is explained in detail the origin of why some philosophers and people believe in dualist metaphysics. As stated by Taylor “when we form an idea of a body or a physical object, what is most likely to come to mind is not some person or animal but something much simpler, such as a stone or a marble”(133). The human has the tendency to believe a physical object as simple, and not containing anything complex. A problem with believing this is that unlike a stone or a marble a human (or an animal) has a brain and the body is composed of living cells (excluding dead skin cells, hair, and nails which are dead cells). The f...

    Read More

  • Descartes Knowledge

    1087 Words  | 3 Pages

    our existence in reality is a question which philosophers have tackled throughout time. This essay will look at the

    Read More

  • The Argument of Dualism

    1030 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dualism is the theory that mind and matter are two distinct things. The main argument for dualism is that facts about the objective external world of particles and fields of force, as revealed by modern physical science, are not facts about how things appear from any particular point of view, whereas facts about subjective experience are precisely about how things are from the point of view of individual conscious subjects. They have to be described in the first person as well as in the third person.

    Read More

  • Arguments Against Dualism

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before we proceed to critique dualism, it is imperative we first understand the arguments that dualists put forward in regards to the exact nature of their theory. Descartes was one of the major proponents of this theory. Dualists generally believe that things exist in or are composed of two different things or entities. Descartes believed that in regards to human beings that two attributes existed; the physical part that talks, walks and exists, the physical body that can be seen and proven to exist empirically and the mind or soul which is an entity that cannot be seen but is believed to exist . This is the part that is autonomous to the physical body. Descartes then went further to illustrate that human beings or matter go on with their own business and follow their own laws until the mind/soul intervenes which interferes with the physical nature of humans. He therefore believed that the mind and body of human beings were therefore two distinct elements.

    Read More

  • René Descartes and Thomas Hobbes

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    René Descartes laid the foundations for Cartesian Dualism within his Meditations on First Philosophy. Descartes provides most of his dualist view within the second and sixth meditations. Dualism is the belief, or school, within philosophy of mind that the mind and body are separate. Cartesian Dualism, specifically, is essentially substance dualism, which argues that the mind and body are of separate substances, in Descartes’ case, the mind being spiritual and the body being physical. This viewpoint was a common one during Hobbe...

    Read More

  • Parallels Between Daoism and Hinduism

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... subtle and elusive. It can’t be named, held, seen, or heard, but it is the essence of it. It is part of us and everything around us. It is first and foremost life itself. Unfortunately, we do not recognize it unless we truly destroy of our ignorance. Daoism and Hinduism influenced the Dao and the Brahman in their own unique ways but the core remains the same – indescribable. The Dao is motion-like and entails a process thus called “The Way,” while the Brahman relates to the transcendent spirit. Perhaps each possesses its own cultural uniqueness originating from India and China but both are pointing to the fundamental nature of reality. The Dao and the Brahman are in nature, are natures; they are the life force, and the core of nature. In order to experience them, we must at least follow world-renowned martial artists, Bruce Lee’s advice: “Be like water, my friend.”

    Read More

  • Cartesian Dualism and Gilbert Ryle

    1569 Words  | 4 Pages

    René Descartes theorized Cartesian dualism in his legendary works, Meditations II and VI. He argued that the mind and body were two fundamentally distinct substances capable of existing separately. In his view, the mind is an immaterial, indivisible thinking thing, while the body is a material, divisible thing extended in space (Week 3, Lecture 1, Slide 6). He hypothesized that the mind and body were completely separate, but interacted at the...

    Read More

  • Dualism Essay

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    is the most accurate argument out of the four major theories about the nature of reality and

    Read More

  • Difference Between Functionalism And Dualism

    1533 Words  | 4 Pages

    Dualism is the idea that the mind is a separate entity that has no connection to the physical body.

    Read More

  • Four Arguments For The World Of Life In Plato's Phaedo

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    He argues that non-physical forms or ideas represent the most accurate reality. There exists a fundamental opposition between in the world like the object as a concrete, sensible object and the idea or concept of the objects. Forms are typically universal concepts. The world of appearance corresponds to the body. The world of truth corresponds with the soul. According to Plato, for any conceivable thing or property there is a corresponding Form, a perfect example of that or property is a tree, house, mountain, man, woman, Table and Chair, would all be examples of existing abstract perfect Ideas. Plato says that true and reliable knowledge rests only with those who can comprehend the true reality behind the world of everyday experience. In order to perceive the world of the Forms, individuals must undergo a difficult

    Read More

  • Distinctions and Comparisons between Aristotle and Plato

    1671 Words  | 4 Pages

    The ideas formulated by Aristotle, and Plato on reality can be found throughout western culture. The most eminent thought on reality in today’s thriving western society were the ideas presented by Aristotle. Numerous scientist in the present day, believe that death is the end of the soul which is connected to the body (an Aristotelian perspective). Plato’s view on reality is still discussed today, but Aristotle has stamped his ideas in the western mind more skillfully than Plato. Nevertheless, Plato is a celebrated figure in the philosophical world.

    Read More

  • Cartesian Dualism and Gilbert Ryle

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...nclude, Ryle is correct in his challenge of Descartes’ Cartesian dualism, the mind and body are not two separate parts as dictated by dualist, rather the working of the mind are not distinct from the body. As a result, an observer can understand the mind of another through the actions of the body. It is the combination that makes up a human, human, as they are one and the same.

    Read More

  • Essay On Idealism Theory

    1135 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the world of philosophy there are many theory’s that talk about the nature of reality and substance. Right now in the world there are four theories that out show the other ones. These theories are materialism/ physicalism, idealism, transcendental idealism, and dualism. Each one of these theories have good arguments that support their believes, but at the same time they also have their weakness. That is why none of these four theories can be taken off the list of the top 4. Because even though they have their own weakness they have their strong points that make u in a sense think about why that theory is the right one when it comes to the nature of reality and substance.

    Read More

More about Platonic Dualism versus Atman

Open Document