Comparing Locke And Plato's Theory Of Knowledge

Knowing where knowledge comes from was a huge focus for philosophers. However many of the philosophers argue on the origin of knowledge. Some believe that it comes from the senses and some believe that it comes from reason alone. Others can be somewhere in between or have completely other ideas. However, it is most interesting to compare opposing views on where knowledge comes from. John Locke and Plato are two famous philosophers who have completely opposing of their views on where knowledge comes from, but they have reasons behind their opinions. John Locke was a philosopher during the 1600’s in Europe. He was known as a empiricist philosopher. An empiricist is a philosopher who believes knowledge can come only from sense experiences.

He was a rationalist, which means he believed knowledge comes from reason alone, without any help from the senses. Plato tells a lot of stories about his cousin Socrates. Plato has a “two-world” theory that distinguishes between the objects of knowledge and the objects of opinion. These can also be known as the world of Forms and the world of Things. Plato shows this theory with imagery. There is a cave of senses, where the senses have a very limited view. He believes the people are prisoners of their senses and you can only receive minimal information from the senses alone. However by coming out of the cave, meaning using your senses, you have the ability to see more. There is a better grasp on reality with reason, and can see actual things for what they are instead of just shadows. According to Plato, ideas exist objectively, they exist on their own for us to discover. Discovery comes from reason, by forming ideas and thinking. Another way Plato shows reason as the main factor of knowledge is his theory of the form of the good. He compares the form of the good to the sun. The sun gives the ability of sight so you have the ability to see life much like how the form of the good gives the soul and mind the ability to know a form and gives the soul the power of knowing. The sun brings life like the form of good brings the being of forms. It is a cycle where all things are needing in order to work correctly. Plato is able to defend his argument with great imagery, stories, and charts. He gives a lot of information to help understand rationalism and give understanding to why one would use reason alone to find