Sober Philosophy: Platonism (Rob presents)

From Britannica: Platonism, any [philosophy](https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophy) that derives its ultimate inspiration from [Plato](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plato). Though there was in antiquity a tradition about Plato’s “unwritten doctrines,” Platonism then and later was based primarily on a reading of the [dialogues](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dialogues-works-by-Plato). But these can be read in many different ways, often very selectively, and it may be that all that the various kinds of Platonism can be said to have in common is an intense concern for the [quality](https://www.britannica.com/topic/quality-philosophy) of human life—always [ethical](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethical), often religious, and sometimes political, based on a belief in unchanging and eternal realities, which Plato called [forms](https://www.britannica.com/topic/form-philosophy), independent of the changing things of the world perceived by the senses. Platonism sees these realities both as the causes of the [existence](https://www.britannica.com/topic/existence) of everything in the [universe](https://www.britannica.com/science/universe) and as giving value and [meaning](https://www.britannica.com/topic/meaning) to its contents in general and the life of its inhabitants in particular. It is this belief in absolute values rooted in an eternal world that distinguishes Platonism from the philosophies of Plato’s immediate predecessors and successors and from later philosophies inspired by them—from the immanentist [naturalism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/naturalism-philosophy) of most of the pre-Socratics (who interpreted the world [monistically](https://www.britannica.com/topic/pluralism-philosophy) in terms of nature as such), from the [relativism](https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethical-relativism) of the [Sophists](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sophist-philosophy), and from the correction of Platonism in a this-worldly direction carried out by Plato’s greatest pupil, [Aristotle](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aristotle). Symptom-free (of potentially contagious disease) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing. We begin the meeting at 1:00 pm sharp at the mezzanine above the lobby of the Graduate Hotel in the University District: 4507 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105. Directions for first-timers at the Graduate Hotel: From the front hotel entrance go to the right. Turn left around the corner to enter through the north valet entrance. If the valet questions you just say you're here for the philosophy group. Go straight to the main lobby and turn right behind the large bookshelves before the elevators. Enter the stairway on your left, go up one flight, and go through the first door you encounter to enter our meeting area. 2-MINUTE OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (2ORF): 1. The topic presenter begins the discussion by taking up to two minutes explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it. 2. Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter has up to two minutes to describe their general thoughts on the topic. 3. If one is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks. 4. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment. 5. Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into TDRF>4 below. TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>4): If there are 4 or less people present we will have unstructured discussion, otherwise we will use the format below. 1. We will divide up the timed direction discussion time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time. 2. Each participant in turn will become a Discussion Director and lead the group discussion. 3. If one is not ready to direct they dimply say “pass” and the…