How often, falling under the influence of anyone's views and opinions, we bow to other people's authorities. Sometimes this happens contrary to common sense. For example, parents always think: they know what is best for their child. With whom should he be friends, what hobby to choose, in what profession to realize himself. And even the personal life of their child should be built at the direction of adults. But are those who gave us life always right? And is it possible to consider old age and the experience of others as the ultimate truth?
Popular expression
For such cases, the expression that has long been winged is most suitable. It sounds like this: "Plato is my friend, but truth is more precious." Like most aphorisms, this also has a source. At the end of the XVI - beginning of the XVII century there lived such a famous writer - Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra. Everyone knows his funny and ideal hero - Don Quixote of La Mancha. In the second part of the novel, in chapter 51, we come across the familiar: "Plato is my friend, but truth is more precious." So, then, where did this phrase come from in our language! "Amikus Plateau, sed ma-gis amika veritas" is a Russian transcription of
aphorism in Latin. Why did we remember her? Cervantes simply introduced the broad readership to the phrase. But he only repeated in Spanish what the ancients had said long before him.
An excursion into history ...
And now, mentally, on a time machine, we will be transported to even later times. IV century BC, Ancient Greece, the great Plato, his philosophical school and works, which to this day have not lost their relevance and interest. In one of them - the work "Fedon" - Plato quotes the words of Socrates, with whom he was a student, where his brilliant predecessor advises him to look less at himself, defending his point of view. Truth is dearer than authority, Socrates maintained. And the author of "Fedon" completely agree with this. Hence, "Plato is my friend, but truth is more precious." Note that the philosopher gives the students an exact setting: you should go to the end if you are sure of your own rightness and not think about whether this coincides with the opinion of their teacher.
From Plato to Aristotle
Ancient Greek philosophical thought gave the world many geniuses. One can not help but recall another remarkable representative of her - Aristotle. This is also the 4th century BC, only a somewhat later period. He wrote the deep and serious work “Nikomakh's Ethics”. In it, Aristotle, continuing the thoughts of his teachers (Socrates and the same Plato), wrote that, no matter how dear his friends are, if you choose between them and the truth, you should still give preference to truth. Here is such a long story in this statement! But it is still not final, because many ancient writers believed that the source of all “cheese-boron” was Socrates, it was his name that was mentioned in the aphorism. But, as we have established, it would be more correct to say this: “Plato is my friend, but truth is more precious!”
Further eras
So, before us is a classic example of a logical and cultural paradox. The author has launched an axiom that contradicts himself. On its basis, subsequently, many similar statements of "general content" were compiled. For example, Martin Luther, justifying his religious and philosophical postulates, says almost the same universal formula, very close to the traditional one: “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer”, only mentioning Socrates and using the strong-willed imperative “should be preferred”. Its significance, of course, is understandable: in any dispute, correctness, conformity to common sense, and objectivity should act as an arbiter. Or the truth. That it should be an absolute value and have privileges over all subjective opinions.
Let's look at some examples
In what cases is such an expression appropriate? In almost all, when it comes to serious fundamental decisions, on which, for example, the fate of an important scientific discovery, the solution of a legal issue, etc., or even personal relationships, may depend. Dudintsev’s novel “White Clothes” discusses issues related to the new branch of biology - genetics. You ask, what does the same aphorism have to do with all of this: “Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer”? Its meaning is directly related to the conflict disclosed in the work: some scientists follow the path of the official authorities, agree in everything with the “People’s Academician” Along (prototype Lysenko). For the sake of personal gain and power, he “erases” not only his talented colleagues, but also openly falsifies and pours lies on progressive scientific ideas.
Others are not afraid to openly fight these retrograde cities and opportunists, but defend the truth in spite of the danger that threatens them. This is Dezhkin, Zvyakh, Strigalyov, Kheifets. The latter, for example, is so shocked by the atmosphere of hidden meanness and denunciations in the team that, although there are many of his friends among the scientists working there, he is ready to leave the walls of the institute, where he worked for many years. “Plato is my friend, but truth is more precious” - he proves the value of this statement by his own actions. And not only him! Dezhkin once revered Along with this a professional, a man of great intelligence and talent, a biologist with a capital letter. Having learned that the academician has fallen to the appropriation of alien discoveries for himself, and exposes their authors to persecution and repression, he is also indignant and stands up for the truth.
“Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer” - what does this statement mean to him? Much: Dezhkin completes the work of the defeated clandestine laboratory. He risks his life, transmitting valuable information to his Western colleagues, who specially came to the Union for this purpose. And then for many years, until the death of Stalin and the rehabilitation of his colleagues, among whom there are those who died in prison or camps, he lives almost underground. These are the hardships and sacrifices that principle people are ready to make for the sake of truth!
Worthy examples are given to us by literature!