Did Plato Just Debunk the Loch Ness Monster? You Won't Believe What This Ancient Philosopher Has to Say!

Ah, the question that has puzzled many a seeker of the truth: 

IS THE LOCH NESS MONSTER REAL?

This topic has captured the imaginations of people around the world, from curious tourists to seasoned researchers. Now, there's no real way to know for sure if it's real or not. Some people believe that there really is a creature living in the depths of the loch, while others think the sightings are just hoaxes or mistaken identity.

But what would a philosopher have to say about this mysterious creature? Let's take one of the world's most well know philosophers Plato 

THE PERFECT CHAIR

Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher (around 400 BCE) thought knowledge was a mix of senses and reason. Many consider him to be the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy. His philosophy covered a wide range of topics, from metaphysics and epistemology to ethics and politics.

One of the central ideas in Plato's philosophy was his theory of Forms. According to this theory, there is a realm of abstract entities or "Forms" that exist beyond the physical world we experience through our senses. Take the chair you're sitting on, for instance. There's an amazing place where perfect things, like the perfect chair, exist outside of the world we experience with our senses. Everything we see and touch is just a copy of these perfect things.

Plato also believed that true knowledge and understanding comes from using our minds to access this higher realm of perfect things. He thought that if we could just use our minds to understand the world of perfect things, we'd have a better understanding of the world around us.

Another important idea in Plato's philosophy was that we should all strive to be good people and live good lives. He thought that if we were all virtuous and committed to doing the right thing, we'd be able to achieve true happiness and fulfillment.

Plato also had some interesting ideas about what the perfect society would look like, which was very different to our commitment to democracy. He believed that the best kind of society would be one that was ruled by wise philosopher-kings who made decisions based on reason and a commitment to the common good

Overall, Plato's philosophy was all about using our minds to understand the world around us, being good people and living good lives, and working towards creating a better society.

HOW THEN WOULD PLATO APPROACH THIS TOPIC? 

IS THE LOCH NESS MONSTER IS REAL OR NOT?

As for what Plato would think, that's tricky since he lived in ancient Greece and the legend of the Loch Ness monster didn't really emerge until much later. But, if we imagine that Plato was around today and heard about the legend, he might approach it from a philosophical perspective.

First, let us consider Plato's philosophy of reality and knowledge, his theory of Forms, which we discussed above. Plato would suggest that – if the creature was real – it is a physical manifestation of a higher, more perfect Monster. In other words, he might argue that the Loch Ness Monster is an imperfect copy or shadow of a perfect creature that exists in the higher realm of Forms.

So, if Plato were asked about the Loch Ness Monster, he might suggest that it's not just a random creature that evolved in nature. Instead, he might argue that it's actually a physical manifestation of a higher, more perfect form that exists in the world of Forms.

For example, maybe Plato believed that there was a perfect form of a sea creature or lake monster that exists beyond our physical world. He might say that the Loch Ness Monster is an imperfect copy or shadow of that perfect lake monster.

Basically, he believed that everything in the physical world is a reflection of something more perfect and real that exists in the world of Forms. And by studying physical things like the Loch Ness Monster, we can gain insights into the higher realm of Forms and the true nature of reality.

SO DID PLATO JUST DEBUNK THE LOCH NESS MONSTER?

In truth, Plato would have been skeptical of claims made without any evidence to back them up. When it comes to the Loch Ness monster, he would likely have asked for evidence to support the claims that there really is a creature living in the loch. He would have been interested in examining eyewitness accounts and any other evidence that might support the existence of the creature.

At the same time, Plato would have been aware of the limitations of our senses and the potential for us to be deceived. He would have been wary of relying too heavily on eyewitness accounts alone, since people's perceptions can be influenced by their beliefs and expectations.

Overall, Plato would have approached the question of the Loch Ness monster's existence with a healthy dose of skepticism and an emphasis on examining the evidence. Ultimately, though, whether the creature is real or not is still an open question that may never be fully answered.

-WMcT

What to read more about Plato and his ideas? Try these 3 books.

1. The Republic - This is Plato's most famous work, and it explores a wide range of philosophical ideas, including his theory of Forms. In The Republic, Plato imagines an ideal society and uses that as a way to explore the nature of justice, the ideal state, and the relationship between individuals and the state.
   
   
2. Phaedo - This dialogue focuses on the nature of the soul and the afterlife. Plato uses the concept of the Forms to argue that the soul is immortal and exists beyond the physical body.
   
   
3. Symposium - This dialogue is a series of speeches given at a dinner party, with each speaker presenting their views on the nature of love. While not specifically about the theory of Forms, Symposium is a great example of Plato's use of dialogue to explore complex philosophical ideas in an engaging and accessible way.