by Kevin J. Browne

Created on: March 31, 2008

A Dialogue Concerning Studying for a Philosophy Exam

Ben: So are you ready to grab some dinner?

Jerry: Don't you have to study for an exam?

Ben: I'm finished studying. I feel like I'm ready.

Jerry: You feel like you're ready? Are you sure you're ready?

Ben: Yeah, I've gone through all the material and followed all of the advice my instructor gave us.

Jerry: Sounds good.

Ben: Except for one dumb suggestion.

Jerry: What's that?

Ben: He suggested we try to explain the material to someone who didn't understand it to see if we really do understand it. But, I feel silly doing that. Besides, I feel like I understand the material just fine.

Jerry: But, that sounds like a good idea. It sounds like a good way to see if you really understand the material. Why not explain something to me and then we can go eat? What are you studying?

Ben: Well, there's Plato's theory of the forms, and Aristotle, and Descartes.

Jerry: Well, tell me about Plato's theory. I've actually heard of him before!

Ben: OK. Plato had this theory of the forms which are like ideas. They are the reason things exist but they can't be seen or felt.

Jerry: That sounds interesting tell me some more.

Ben: That's pretty much it really. The forms are ideas in our mind that we use to understand the world around us.

Jerry: I'm not quite sure I understand. How can forms in our mind be the reason things exist?

Ben: Well, in the lecture it said that things participate in the forms.

Jerry: What does it mean to participate? I still don't understand how forms work or what they are really.

Ben: Well, there are these attributes which explain all that. Let's see forms are transcendent, intelligible, perfect. There are a few others as well.

Jerry: Don't you need to know what they are?

Ben: Yeah, I guess I do.

Jerry: Well, let's start with what you mentioned. What do these terms mean?

Ben: I don't know really. It's not like I'm going to have to explain those on the exam!

Jerry: Are you sure? If you're supposed to be explaining Plato's theory to me and I don't understand that sounds like a problem.

Ben: But, the instructor knows what all these terms mean!

Jerry: Yeah, but isn't the point of the exam to show that you know what they mean?

Ben: I guess. You're worse than the philosophers we're studying!

Jerry: I'm just asking questions!

Ben: Right!

Jerry: So, what does transcendent mean?

Ben: It means being out there.

Jerry: OK, that doesn't make much sense.

Ben: What can I say, that's Plato for you. He doesn't make much sense!

Jerry: if you're saying he

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