Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

The early writings of Plato center based on a kind of knowledge which its object is moral virtues. According to the epistemology of these writings, theory is tied up with practice; since in its perspective, being aware of the moral virtue makes one moral and being ignorance of it causes immorality. Human’s will is subordinate to knowledge as well, so that when someone knows the goodness, she/he wants it; therefore, no one does wrong willingly. Furthermore, human’s prosperity depends on knowledge; for worldly enjoyments are good only if they are used in the right way, and it is knowledge that shows the right use of them. Even moral virtues without knowledge are not true ones. Thus, knowledge is the principal condition of attaining virtue and prosperity. In the above-mentioned writings, Socratic method of dialectic is examined, and it is concluded that this method hardly ends up in knowledge. However, the way of dialectic makes philosopher’s life and existence inseparable form her/his philosophy.

Keywords

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