ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS.,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 213, 2 June 1908, Page 8

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS.,

THEIR LESSONS FOR TO-DAY.

Plato or brass band, was the choice offered visitors! to tho Town- Hall last evening. Despite tho loud attraction of the brass band in tho Main liall, a considerable audicnce gathored in tho Concert Chamber to hear tho Rev. Dr. Tudor Jones, under tho auspices of the City Council, deliver a free lecture on " Somo Lessons from tho Philosophy of' Plato arid Aristotle for Young New Zealanders." Mr! J. M. Richardson was in tho chair.. • Tho lecturer traced first of all the problems of tho world of lifo as . viewed by tho Groelc philosophers up to tho time of Socratos. Theso wero mainly problems dealing with tho physical universe, and it was only, hero arid thore that anything could bo fouud concerning the lifo of man. With tho advent of Socrates.thero came a revolution in the philosophy of life. Socrates saw that solutions of, physical problems brought but little change in tho condition and development of tho mental, life, so he set himself to answer the question: " AVhat is tho meaning of tho inward lifo of man?" By finding a solution to this, a solution might be found to the meaning of' tho physical universe. The main desire of Socrates was to. make tho peoplo virtuous, which belief in the gods of. Greece had failed to effect. Socrates said that ,tho way to virtue was through knowledge.' " Virtue is knowledge," was his famous dictum.

Plato, a pupil of Socrates, carried this teaching further, and showed that the naturo of things does not lio on tho surface, that if reality was to be found at all, it must bo found in ideas. Plato's doctrine of ideas meant tho getting out of tho ordinary, evory-day drudgery, of life to the heights. Tho great question with him. was: "Is the kingdom of tho senses all?" If so,, all hope and all holding fast, to the totality of things disappeared. Plato carried this doctrine further by stating that our ideas must havo a reality in the universo - corresponding to them. Plato pointed out that it was the work of thought in the long _ run which created prosperity; it was only insight that brought a brief definite' virtue. •Passing from Plato to Aristotle, the lecturer pointed out the general method of Aristotle's teaching, and how it modified, and accomplished, . some. aspects of tho teaching of Plato. Aristotlo believed that Plato had not dwelt sufficiently on this world and its scientific explanation by tho reason of man. Ho taught mon that they need not fly to find reality—it was at hand. _ Aristotle gave scientific expression to all . things. His main object was to find a reason for things, that is, to underhand, to explain, and to uso rightly,' tho world.' Both Plato and Aristotle agreed that an even higher conception ,of things could be found: In reason and . experience were

found tho meanings of thmgSi _ . Tho matter of importance in their day and in New Zealand now. was not to crave after speculative things, which had no bearing in life. Wo gathered from tho teaching of both' tho necessity to seek for problems and for their solution in this world; thus ensued tho same life to tho individual and the community. Tho .two philosophers emphasised many things of importance to us in this Dominion. This country will never grow great by any material prosperity, unless all individuals'wore ready to take upon their shoulders burdens which belonged to the community at large. We must not wrap ourselves up in our own pleasuro and conoeit,_ allowing the country to drift along according to the whim of the political moment. The. great need to-day was men of culture and character who would raise even higher tho standard of life, within these islands. This was, not to he dono without treat striving, and much sacrifice) without the possession of aims and obligations which would bring but few returns, maybe, from a commercial point of viow, but which would bring returns of overlasting value to the generations that aro to be. Hero, to-day-, ono great need was to create an ideal mental and moral atmosphero which would bo independent of tho. politics of the- moment, and independent of the perpotual flux of individual opinions. This alono could bo tho factor which 1 would make for greatness in the truo sense of the word.. • Dr. Tudor Jones was given a very hoarty reception, and the address was listened to with much interest, a vote of thanks being passed at at its conclusion.