Key Philosophical Concepts

Cognitive Conditions

The four cognitive activities of the soul. The first two (conjecture and belief) lead to opinion, resulting from the knowledge of sensible beings. The other two (intelligence and discursive thought) lead to science, true knowledge because it is the fruit of the knowledge of intelligible beings.

Soul

That which essentially defines man. Its nature is that of a living body. It has a tripartite nature: rational soul, irascible soul, and concupiscible soul.

Analogy

A relation of similarity among distinct things. Reasoning based on analogy consists of attributing similar attributes to different things.

Arts (Mathematical)

The components that make up the distinct branches of mathematics. Two are cited: Geometry and Arithmetic. A consequence of the knowledge of discursive reason.

Conclusion

In a single reasoning process, it is the result that necessarily follows from its premises. There are two types of conclusions: in mathematical reasoning, it is never a beginning, but in dialectical science, it is. The conclusion is, with respect to the premises, that which it explains.

Conjecture

"Knowledge" of images. It is a grade lower than opinion. It is not properly knowledge as it is the result of suppositions, rumors, sayings, myths...

Belief

Knowledge that is harvested from perceptions of natural and artificial beings. It is a degree of opinion.

Education

An exercise by which the teacher guides the soul so that it remembers the truth it already possesses within itself.

Being "As If"

To be "as if" is a feature that precludes being "in another." Intelligible beings are "on themselves" because their complete being permits it.

Essence

What makes a thing what it is despite its change of state or appearance. For Plato, essences are Ideas.

Idea of the Good

The Idea that occupies the summit. Goodness is the cause of private and public actions. It is the ultimate cause of the existence and goodness of sensible beings.

Ignorance

In the allegory of the cave, it is the ignorance of the situation in which the prisoners find themselves. They are ignorant because they believe they know real beings when they only know shadows. This image represents the situation of the soul that believes the sensible world is the real world.

Images

Beings that are lower than sensible beings. They produce the lowest level of opinion. Images are shadows, reflections on water or any other surface of natural and artificial beings.