In the Timaeus Plato sets forth his cosmological system, and near the beginning of
the dialogue he carefully qualifies his claims by saying that his account of the cosmos is
not absolutely true, but only no less likely than any other account. Rather than being an
offhand remark, this statement is key to understanding Plato's aim in constructing his
cosmological myth. Plato's epistemological position prevents him from making strong
assertions about physical objects and phenomena, but does allow him to make assertions
of truth in morality and metaphysics. Thus while the Timaeus is ostensibly an account of
the physical universe, for Plato its true value is in using the physical universe as a
mythological symbol for moral and metaphysical truth. Plato's account is no less likely
than those of other ancient cosmologists because multiple accounts can fit with the
observed phenomena. However, his account, while no more likely, is superior to those of
others in that it avoids impiety and, by qualifying its claims about the physical universe,
is not threatened by future observations. / text
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTEXAS/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/ETD-UT-2011-05-2754 |
| Date | 20 July 2011 |
| Creators | Zawislanski, Andrew Peter |
| Source Sets | University of Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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