How often, falling under the influence of someone else’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. Who should he be friends with, what hobby should he choose, what profession should he realize himself in. And even the personal life of their child should be built according to the orders of adults. Are those who gave us life always right? And can someone else’s life experience be considered the ultimate truth?
Popular expression
For such cases, the most suitable expression is one that became popular a long time ago. It sounds like this: “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer.” Like most aphorisms, this one also has a primary source. At the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th 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 something familiar: “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer.” So, this means where this phrase came into our language! “Amicus Plato, sed ma-gis amika varitas” is a Russian transcription. Why did we remember it? Cervantes simply introduced the phrase to the broad masses of readers. But he only repeated in Spanish what the ancients had said long before him.
An excursion into history...
And now let’s mentally take a time machine 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 essay "Phaedo" - Plato cites the words of Socrates, of whom he himself was a student, where his brilliant predecessor advises to look less back at himself when defending his point of view. Truth is more valuable than authority, Socrates argued. And the author of the Phaedo completely agrees with this. Hence: “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer.” Let us note that the philosopher gives his students a precise instruction: they should go to the end if they are confident in their own rightness, and not think about whether this coincides with the opinion of their teacher.
From Plato to Aristotle
Ancient Greece gave the world many geniuses. One cannot help but recall another remarkable representative of it - Aristotle. This is also the 4th century BC, only a little more late period. He is the author of the profound and serious work “Nicomachean Ethics”. In it, Aristotle, continuing the thoughts of his teachers (Socrates and the same Plato), wrote that, no matter how dear his friends were to him, if one chooses between them and the truth, preference should still be given to the truth. This saying has such a long history! But it is not yet final, because many ancient writers believed that the primary source of all the “fuss” 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 the truth is dearer!”
Further eras
So, here we have a classic example of a logical and cultural paradox. The author released an axiom that contradicts himself. On its basis, many similar statements were subsequently compiled “ general content" For example, justifying his religious and philosophical postulates, he says almost the same universal formula, very close to the traditional one: “Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer,” only mentioning Socrates and using the volitional imperative “should be preferred.” Its meaning, of course, is clear: in any dispute, correctness, compliance with common sense, and objectivity should act as an arbiter. Or the truth. It is she who should act as an absolute value and have privileges over all subjective opinions.
Let's look at examples
In what cases is such an expression appropriate? Almost in all cases, 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 a new branch of biology - genetics. You may ask, what does the same aphorism have to do with all this: “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer”? Its meaning is directly related to the conflict revealed in the work: some scientists follow the lead of the official authorities, agree on everything with the “people's academician” Ryadno (prototype Lysenko). For the sake of personal gain and power, he “overwrites” not only his talented colleagues, but also openly falsifies and pours lies on progressive scientific ideas.
Others are not afraid to openly fight these retrogrades and opportunists, but defend the truth despite the danger that threatens them. These are Dezhkin, Tsvyakh, Strigalev, Kheifetz. 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 dearer” - he proves the meaning of this statement with his own actions. And not only him! Dezhkin once considered Ryadno a real professional, a person great mind and talent, a biologist with a capital B. Having learned that the academician has stooped to appropriating other people's discoveries and subjecting their authors to persecution and repression, he is also indignant and stands up in defense of the truth.
“Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer” - what does this statement mean to him? Much: Dezhkin brings to the end the work of the destroyed underground laboratory. He risks his life by passing on valuable information to Western colleagues who came to the Union specifically for this purpose. And then for many years, until Stalin’s death and the rehabilitation of his colleagues, some of whom died in prison or camps, he lives practically underground. These are the hardships and sacrifices that principled people are willing to make for the sake of truth!
Literature gives us worthy examples!
encyclopedic Dictionary popular words and expressions Serov Vadim Vasilievich
Plato is my friend but the truth is dearer
Plato is my friend but the truth is dearer
From Latin: Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas[amicus plateau, sed magis amica varitas].
In world literature it first appears in the novel (Part 2, Chapter 51) “Don Quixote” (1615) by a Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra(1547-1616). After the publication of the novel, the expression became world famous.
Primary source - the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato (421- 348 BC e.). In the essay “Phaedo”, he puts the following words into the mouth of Socrates: “Following me, think less about Socrates, and more about the truth.” That is, Plato advises students to choose the truth rather than faith in the authority of the teacher.
A similar phrase is found in Aristotle (IV century BC), who in his work “Nicomachean Ethics” wrote: “Even though friends and truth are dear to me, duty commands me to give preference to truth.” In other, later, ancient authors, this expression occurs in the form: “Socrates is dear to me, but the truth is dearest of all.”
Thus, the history of the famous expression is paradoxical: its actual author - Plato - became at the same time its “hero”, and it was in this form, edited by time, that Plato’s words entered world culture. This expression served as the basis for the formation of similar phrases, the most famous of which are the words of the German church reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). In his work “On the Enslaved Will,” he wrote: “Plato is my friend, Socrates is my friend, but truth should be preferred.”
The meaning of the expression: truth, accurate knowledge is the highest, absolute value, and authority is not an argument.
From the book Encyclopedic Dictionary (E-Y) author Brockhaus F.A.Truth Truth itself is what is, in a formal sense, the correspondence between our thought and reality. Both of these definitions represent information only as what is sought. For in the first place it is asked what the correspondence between our thought and its
From the book What is the name of your god? Great scams of the 20th century [magazine version] authorPrologue. Friend Albert and friend Ivar In February 1932, Albert Einstein, ahead of his era by exactly seventy years, gave a revolutionary speech at international conference in Site Barbara (California) and proposed nothing more and nothing less than a plan for the disarmament of all states
From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia(AB) author TSB From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (IS) by the author TSB From the book The Newest Book of Facts. Volume 3 [Physics, chemistry and technology. History and archaeology. Miscellaneous] author Kondrashov Anatoly PavlovichWhich electricity costs more to produce – nuclear or solar? Despite the free sunlight, currently electricity obtained directly from the Sun is 5 times more expensive
From the book Winged Words author Maksimov Sergey Vasilievich From the book Encyclopedic Dictionary of Catchwords and Expressions author Serov Vadim VasilievichThe stove pot is dearer to you, / You cook your food in it. From the poem “The Poet and the Crowd” (1829) by A. S. Pushkin (1799-1837). Its first publication took place under the title “Mob”. The mob (crowd) reproaches the poet that although his song is free like the wind, “but like the wind it is barren.” AND
From the book Secrets of Jewish Sex author Kotlyarsky MarkThe darkness of low truths is dearer to me / The deception that elevates us From the poem “Hero” (1830) by L. S. Pushkin (1799-1837): The darkness of low truths is dearer to me The deception that elevates us... Leave your heart to the hero! What will he do without him?
From the book Stervology. Lessons in beauty, image and self-confidence for a bitch author Shatskaya EvgeniyaWhat is truth? From the Bible. The New Testament (Gospel of John, chapter 18, v. 37) contains a dialogue between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, who interrogated him. Jesus said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth.” To which Pilate asks him: “What is
From the book Russian Literature Today. New guide author Chuprinin Sergey IvanovichA contract is more valuable than money. According to Halacha, the bride and groom are prohibited from seeing each other during the week preceding the wedding, and, according to a relatively recent halachic decree, from talking to each other on the phone. Some modern rabbis
From the book Great Scams of the 20th Century. Volume 1 author Golubitsky Sergey Mikhailovich From the book The Newest Philosophical Dictionary. Postmodernism. authorTRUTH AND LIFE A monthly illustrated Christian magazine, published since November 1990 as a “Catholic Messenger”, and since 1995, which has declared itself as a publication of interfaith dialogue under the evangelical motto: “Let all be one...”. Circulation in 2000 - 2,500
From the book The Newest Philosophical Dictionary author Gritsanov Alexander AlekseevichFriend Albert and friend Ivar In February 1932, Albert Einstein, ahead of his era by exactly seventy years, made a revolutionary speech at an international conference in Santa Barbara (California) and proposed nothing more, no less than a plan for the disarmament of all states of the planet with
From the book Encyclopedia of Shocking Truths author Gitin Valery GrigorievichTRUTH is a concept emphasized by postmodern philosophy (see) from the range of basic philosophical issues. According to postmodernism, the only and ultimate objectivity is a text endowed with multiple meanings (see), considered as
From the author's bookTRUTH is a cultural universal of the subject-object series (see: Universals, Categories of Culture), the content of which is the evaluative characteristic of knowledge in the context of its relationship with the subject sphere, on the one hand, and with the sphere of procedural thinking, on the other. (1)
As noted by A.F. Losev– one of the most authoritative researchers of ancient philosophy, “ the question of the mutual relationship between the systems of Plato and Aristotle is a big and difficult question, to which there is still no answer that can satisfy all researchers equally", although its statement itself has not only a long history, but also various shapes expressions: Raphael Santi gave a brilliant embodiment of the dispute between philosophers in their images on the fresco “The School of Athens”, and the outstanding historian of philosophy and commentator on the works of Aristotle of the last century V.F. Asmus writes that “throughout all” Metaphysics“Aristotle goes through ... criticism of Plato’s main teaching - the doctrine of ideas.” Understanding ideas - eidos and was the subject of a dispute between teacher and student.
Discovery of eidos– the supersensible world of ideas, existing before and outside the world of things, was Plato’s greatest merit. All his teachings about being are built on this thesis - the independent existence of essence
- idea-eidos - from a thing. As Diogenes Laertius testifies, according to Plato, “matter is limitless, from it everything complex is born,” but this material world takes on meaning only when higher intelligence connects it with the world of ideas and transforms the fragmentation of substances into space. Plato believes that all ideas represent a kind of unity. The main idea is the idea of good. It unites all the multitude of ideas into some unity of purpose - everything is directed towards a good goal.
Regarding man, Plato argued that only the soul makes a person involved in to the higher world ideas. Therefore, the meaning of human life is self-improvement and pursuing a higher goal.
Aristotle's teachings originate from the works of Plato. At the same time, Aristotle formed his own attitude to the doctrine of ideas: he saw the separation of essence from real things as one of the serious shortcomings of Plato’s concept.
In the thirteenth book "Metaphysics" Aristotle criticizes the doctrine of ideas, which cannot fully explain the continuous movements and transformations in the material world. Ideas in this case are not aimed at full knowledge of the existence of things, since, in essence, they are not involved in them.
Aristotle claims that the idea of a thing is inside the thing itself, it is in their unity that the essence of a thing is concentrated. This is one of the main differences between the theories of Plato and Aristotle. As noted by A.F. Losev and A.A. Taho-Godi, “the thesis about the existence of the idea of a thing inside the thing itself is the basic and fundamental thing in which Aristotelianism lies and its difference from Platonism. And this is where Aristotle differed from Plato and his school."
Aristotle explains essence through the concepts of form and matter. For Aristotle, matter in itself is neither the essence of a thing nor anything else. Material things receive certainty only through form - eidos. Form is the essence of the existence of every thing, its essence. It is located inside the thing itself and fully characterizes it. However, the form itself is revealed only in unity with matter.
Ultimately, Aristotle nevertheless comes to the conclusion about the existence of a higher form, devoid of a material component, ideal, which connects the theories of Aristotle and Plato.
Thus, despite the differences that exist in the teachings of Plato and Aristotle, they ultimately agree on one important point - the recognition of a universal mind, God or a higher form. As noted by A.F. Losev and A.A. Tahoe-Godi, “in some cases there really was a gap between them, but in other cases there were very strong and reliable bridges.”
Plato is my friend but the truth is dearer
From Latin: Amicus Plato, sed magis arnica Veritas (amicus plateau, sed ma-gis amica veritas).
In world literature it first appears in the novel (Part 2, Chapter 51) “Don Quixote” (1615) by the Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra (1547-1616). After the publication of the novel, the expression became world famous.
The primary source is the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato (421-348 BC). In the essay “Phaedo”, he puts the following words into the mouth of Socrates: “Following me, think less about Socrates, and more about the truth.” That is, Plato advises students to choose the truth rather than faith in the authority of the teacher.
A similar phrase is found in Aristotle (IV century BC), who in his work “Nicomachean Ethics” wrote: “Even though friends and truth are dear to me, duty commands me to give preference to truth.” In other, later, ancient authors, this expression occurs in the form: “Socrates is dear to me, but the truth is dearest of all.”
Thus, the history of the famous expression is paradoxical: its actual author - Plato - became at the same time its “hero”, and it was in this form, edited by time, that Plato’s words entered world culture. This expression served as the basis for the formation of similar phrases, the most famous of which are the words of the German church reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). In his work “On the Enslaved Will,” he wrote: “Plato is my friend, Socrates is my friend, but truth should be preferred.”
The meaning of the expression: truth, accurate knowledge is the highest, absolute value, and authority is not an argument.
Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. - M.: “Locked-Press”. Vadim Serov. 2003.
Plato is my friend but the truth is dearer
The Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) in his essay “Phaedo” attributes to Socrates the words: “Following me, think less about Socrates, and more about the truth.” Aristotle, in his work “Nicomachean Ethics,” polemicizes with Plato and, referring to him, writes: “Even though friends and truth are dear to me, duty commands me to give preference to truth.” Luther (1483-1546) says: “Plato is my friend, Socrates is my friend, but truth should be preferred” (“On the Enslaved Will,” 1525). The expression “Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas” - “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer”, was formulated by Cervantes in the 2nd part, ch. 51 novels "Don Quixote" (1615).
Dictionary of catch words. Plutex. 2004.
See what “Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer” in other dictionaries:
Plato is my friend but the truth is dearer- wing. sl. The Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) in his work “Phaedo” attributes to Socrates the words: “Following me, think less about Socrates, and more about the truth.” Aristotle, in his work “Nicomachean Ethics,” argues with Plato and means... ... Universal additional practical Dictionary I. Mostitsky
- (Plato) (428/427 348/347 BC) ancient Greek philosopher, classic of the philosophical tradition; a thinker of global scale, to whose original philosophical concept many areas of classical philosophizing and European... ... The latest philosophical dictionary
Ancient Greek philosopher, classic of the philosophical tradition; a thinker of global scale, to whose original philosophical concept many areas of classical philosophizing and the European style of thinking in general genetically go back. Basic... ... History of Philosophy: Encyclopedia
Wed. I'm not afraid of the truth. Eat salt and cut bread, says a Russian proverb. And one more thing: Varvara is my aunt, but the truth is my mother. Saltykov. Satires in prose. 4. Wed. Truth is dearer to me than anything else. Without having time to think, I’ll say: you’re the cutest of all; After thinking about it, I will say all this... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary
Aphorisms can be divided into two categories: some catch our eye, are remembered and are sometimes used when we want to show off wisdom, while others become an integral part of our speech and go into the category of catchphrases. About authorship... ... Consolidated encyclopedia of aphorisms
Wikiquote has a page on the topic Latin proverbs In many languages of the world, including ... Wikipedia
NICOMACEAN ETHICS- “NICOMACHEAN ETHICS” (Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια), a work by Aristotle, dates back to the 2nd Athenian period (334-322 BC); is a recording of a lecture course, another version of which (presumably an earlier one) is known as “Evdemova ... ... Ancient philosophy
Major League 1998 Season 12 Venue Moscow Youth Palace Season name Season of problems Number of teams 15 Number of games 7 ... Wikipedia
The ancient Greek interest in philosophy gave the world many legendary thinkers. Their works have still not lost their relevance. These are the real geniuses of humanity. Among them was Socrates. He owns the famous phrase “Plato is my friend, but the truth is more precious.” It raises a significant topic - who is the source of truth and who to trust?
I agree with the importance of the topic. Choose truth or faith in the authority of the teacher? I think the answer is obvious. You should always choose the truth, without thinking about what others will say. Yes, both friendships and love relationship, but why live in a lie and eternal fear that deception and untruth will be revealed? There must be correctness and objectivity.
This expression is appropriate to use in various disputes and evidence, when defending the truth becomes the main goal.
For example, you can use the work “White Robes,” when the heroes defended the truth in spite of the impending danger. “Plato is my friend, but truth is dearer” - the meaning of this statement is proven by actions. They were so shocked by the meanness of the team members and the dirty atmosphere that, despite many local friends, they were ready to leave their native walls and the place of work where they had worked for many years. Another example is when your acquaintance or close friend has committed a serious offense, and no one knows about it except you. This should not be hidden - friends come and go, and the offender must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Of course, denunciations are extremely immoral and bad, but “...the truth is more valuable.”
Thus, catchphrase has invariably passed through several millennia and is still extremely relevant. I think it has become a kind of motto. But this is not enough. We need to make sure that this phrase becomes a slogan for the lives of all people on the planet, then we will live in an honest and cultural society.
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Updated: 2018-03-11
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