Platonism vs. Naturalism

Abstract

This chapter distinguishes between Platonism and Naturalism. Plato's Platonism rests upon the foundation of his rejection of many, though not all, of the doctrines of his major predecessors. These include materialism, mechanism, nominalism, relativism, and skepticism. Plato rejects all these views with arguments, sometimes very elaborate and sometimes quite concise. All these negative arguments make up the foundation of Platonism. Meanwhile, the central pillar of the positive construct on the basis of this foundation is clear and unambiguous. It is an “unhypothetical first principle of all” called in Republic “the Idea of the Good” and, according to Aristotle's testimony, identified by Plato with “the One.” However, many contemporary philosophers embrace an opposing position, widely labeled “Naturalism.” Strikingly, many of the arguments for this position are arguments against elements of Platonism. The chapter then looks at attempts to seek a rapprochement between Platonism and Naturalism.