As one of Society Sessions, the IPS participated in the XXIV World Congress of Philosophy, Beijing, Aug.13-20, 2018. Our IPS panel session titled “Plato and Learning to Be Human” was held on Aug.15, as follows:

  • 9:00-9:10       Introduction by Yuji Kurihara, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan
  • 9:00-9:45       “The Concept of Will in Plato’s Gorgias and Meno” by Teng He, University of Bonn, Germany
  • 9:45-10:25      “Plato on the Erotic Nature of Human Being” by Pauline Sabrier, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai Campus, China
  • 10:25-10:40     Break
  • 10:40-11:20     “Eudaimonia in the Timaeus” by Hyun Höchsmann, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
  • 11:20-12:00     “The Principle of ‘Doing One’s Own’ after Plato” by Tomohiko Kondo, Hokkaido University, Japan
  • 12:00-12:40     General Discussion

More than forty participants attended our panel, in which we discussed various issues, for example, the relation or contrast between the rational desire (βούλησις) and the irrational erôs. In this case, rationality could be interpreted differently either in terms of reason (λόγος) or intellect (νοῦς).

Further, we talked about the ideal for humans, which could be depicted as homoiôsis theôi, that is, becoming like the god. Does it mean “learning to be human”? Bur we humans cannot be immortal, which is one of our most fundamental conditions. Then, is it possible to suppose that the god is ideal?

On the other hand, we are no doubt a part of the whole Nature, i.e. Cosmos. So it seemed plausible for us to begin by looking into the Cosmos and ourselves—human nature in general and the Self in each individual. This attempt might be more realistic.

We then asked: Does this mean that we become free (and true) humans by acquiring the virtue of justice, that is, doing one’s own? How then can we reconcile philosophy and politics?

Finally, we made sure an urgent need to evaluate correctly Plato’s influences on the next generations, such as the Stoics, Plotinus, Augustine, and us ourselves.

We could not give any definite answers to any of these questions, but we were just like dancing on Plato’s palm during the session, every topic connected closely. So we concluded. It’s time to continue to discuss and think about these issues.

I’m glad to report that we had a very good time in discussing Plato’s philosophy.