True opinion and knowledge

Full Answer Section In the Theaetetus, Plato and Socrates argue that true opinion is not knowledge because it is not stable. They argue that true opinion can be changed by persuasion or by other external factors. For example, if someone believes that the Earth is flat, they can be persuaded to change their belief if they are presented with evidence that the Earth is round. This suggests that true opinion is not knowledge because it is not based on a firm foundation. In contrast, knowledge is stable because it is based on a justified belief. A justified belief is a belief that is supported by good reasons. For example, if someone believes that the Earth is round because they have seen evidence that the Earth is round, then their belief is justified. This suggests that knowledge is more stable than true opinion because it is based on a firm foundation. Here are some quotes from Plato and Socrates that illustrate the difference between true opinion and knowledge:

• "True opinion is a sort of appearance of knowledge, but knowledge is a more stable state of mind than true opinion." (Plato, Theaetetus)
• "Knowledge is a justified true belief." (Socrates)
• "True opinion is like a painting on a wall, while knowledge is like a sculpture." (Plato, Meno)

The distinction between true opinion and knowledge is an important one in Plato's and Socrates' philosophy. It is a distinction that has been debated by philosophers for centuries.

Sample Answer According to Plato and Socrates, true opinion is a belief that is correct but not necessarily justified. Knowledge, on the other hand, is a justified true belief. This means that knowledge is not just a matter of having a correct belief, but also of having a good reason for holding that belief. Plato and Socrates illustrate the difference between true opinion and knowledge in the Meno, where Socrates asks Meno if he knows what virtue is. Meno initially claims that he does, but when Socrates asks him to explain what virtue is, he is unable to do so. This suggests that Meno's belief that he knows what virtue is is not a justified belief. He may have a correct belief, but he does not have a good reason for holding that belief.