The Plato Thread

[Neo-Scholastic]

I clearly see the value of understanding Plato on his own terms...At the same time, when I read ancient and Medieval philosophy, my modern personal sensibilities want to constantly reinterpret what is in the text with what seems relevant to my life at the moment. Serious reflection on issues of philosophy seems useful for practicing critical thinking skills but more practically is also learning really useful ways to categorize things. For example in one dialog Socrates makes a big deal about the difference between gymnastics, which produces real health as opposed to cosmetics, which produces the apparent health. My personal perspective mentally translates this into the difference between presentation and authenticity. IMHO the Scholastic distinction between accidental and essential needs some updating, too. Perhaps having something to do with supervenience.