Platonism as Psychotherapy

Platonism as Psychotherapy
John S. Uebersax PhD

Question: I have heard that Platonism ought to be approached as a therapy of the soul, or
literally as psychotherapy? Can you explain this?
Answer: Yes. A central premise of Platos writings is that human beings customarily operate at a
fallen level of mental functioning. Platonism aims to correct this problem.
To avoid getting too mired in the modern medical model, we could alternatively think of this
fallen state not as a disease, but as immaturity. Seen this way, Platonisms purpose is to assist
human beings in developing their full, natural capacity as intellectual, moral, and spiritual
beings.
Q: What are the characteristics of this fallen state of mental functioning?
Anxiety and worry, negative thinking, distraction, unhappiness, to name a few. The list is almost
endless. A simpler way of looking at things is by analogy to attention deficit disorder (ADD):
our habitual condition of mind is, relative to our ideal or intended state, what ADD is relative to
our habitual state. That is, many of the same cognitive abilities that are impaired in ADD are also
impaired in our ordinary fallen state to a lesser, but still to a very serious degree.
Another analogy is to intoxication. If one can achieve the higher level of mental function
Platonism aims for, ones ordinary state of mind may seem as one of comparative drunkenness.
But rather than list the problems of our ordinary state, which are only too evident and familiar, it
is better to examine the nature of the healed, saved, or redeemed state.

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Q: What are qualities of this healed or saved mental condition?
In answering this question we are helped considerably by the writings of humanist psychologist
Abraham Maslow. Maslow noted that many people have, either through meditation or other
spiritual practices, or else sometimes spontaneously in connection with love, nature, or art,
certain heightened experiences. Sometimes these are very brief and intense (peak experiences),
and sometimes less intense but of longer duration (plateau experiences). For details, interested
readers may consult Maslows works (especially Maslow, 1968; 1971). It suffices here to note
that peak and plateau experiences are associated with increased sensory and mental clarity,
aesthetic appreciation, bliss, insight, and absence of disturbing thoughts or emotions. Maslow
summarized this condition by calling it one of Being, as contrasted with our usual condition of
becoming. [Note: Few people realize that these terms are explicit references to Platonism, the
source of the Beingbecoming distinction.]
While peak and plateau experiences are of limited duration, Maslow also noted that over time a
person may become more adept at bringing them about. As they become a more common feature
in ones life a general positive transformation of personality may occur.
Maslow, however, operating in the scientific-positivistic climate of the 1950s and 1960s, did
not sufficiently emphasize the moral or spiritual aspects of the Being state.
Q: Can you elaborate on the moral aspects?
Yes, and this is very important. There is an unfortunate tendency today to confuse morality with
moralism. The latter is a rigid frame of mind which seeks to conform all behavior to fixed rules,
largely proscriptive (thou shalt not). This legalistic approach does little to develop ones
innate moral sense. Rather, it is often yet another manifestation of the fallen condition of the
mind.
Morality is something different, something positive. It affirms that human beings are designed to
be moral; and that moral actions and virtue come naturally and instinctively, and are essential to
ones happiness, well-being, and integrity of personality.
Platonism sees an integral connection between intellectual and moral life. Moral development
comes from intellectual or illuminative insights into ones own nature. Platonism seeks to
cultivate the life of ones higher mind, the source of these intellectual and moral insights. This has
two components, the purgative and the illuminative. The purgative part of Platonism seeks to
correct our habitual forms of negative thought and emotions, which impair our ability to consult
our higher mind. The illuminative part is concerned with actually accessing the higher mind.
Q: And the spiritual aspect?
The spiritual aspect of Platonism is what some writers call the unitive life. It is, of course,
something understood by experience, not description. However certain leading principles of this
state can be noted.

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In general, we could describe this state as a form of humility, in which the ego no longer seeks to
be ruler of ones psyche, but rather is content in the role of helper to something greater than itself.
Now as to what this other entity is, opinions vary. The traditional view, of course, is that it is
God. Some, however, such as Jungian psychologists, understand this other as a higher self or
Self. To some extent this distinction doesnt matter provided that the ego has sufficient
respect for this other that it relates to it as something holy and sacred. The proper relationship
of the ego to this entity, whatever it is, is one of piety and trust.
In this way a person is no longer constrained by the limitations of egoistic over-control, and the
various forms of mischief the ego can create. One is more creative and spontaneous, and, in a
word, more happy. Various names given to this condition are self-actualization, self-realization,
and individuation.
Another way of seeing things is that Platonism is a form of yoga. Etymologically, the word yoga
is related to the word yoke. It refers to establishing an ongoing connection or yoke between the
ego and this higher thing which is God or a higher Self. Note that the word religion has the
same meaning of re-connection, as the stem ligio means to connect or bind, and is related to the
word ligament.
So we see that, despite certain differences, Platonism, yoga, and traditional religion all aim to
restore a kind of natural state or harmony of soul in which the ego finds its proper role. All of
these traditions express a kind of instinctive knowledge human beings have that their ordinary
state, where the ego is out of control, is unnatural, but can be corrected.
Q: What then is the relationship between Platonism and religion?
Platonism overlaps with that part of traditional religion concerned with Wisdom. Wisdom is an
important part of religion, but it is not the only part.
Nevertheless, Platonism complements and may enhance ones experience as a Christian, Jew,
Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. Many of the greatest Christian thinkers throughout the centuries
were also Platonists for example St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas in the West, and St.
Gregory of Nyssa and St. Maximus Confessor in the East. Traditionally, Greek philosophy has
been called the handmaid of theology, and this is an apt description of Platonism.
Q: Is Platonism for everybody?
Each person is a unique individual, with their own preferred yoga. For some a yoga of the heart
(e.g., charity and service) is best; for others a yoga of Wisdom such as Platonism is more
suitable. In general Platonism will appeal most to people who already have a strong intellectual
inclination. It is my observation that in modern times people are overall becoming more
intellectual, so that Platonism may have broader appeal today than in earlier centuries.

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Q: Very well. How does one go about learning Platonism?
First you should know that most of what is written about Platonism, especially in modern times,
is of dubious value. Modern philosophers, generally speaking, no longer understand philosophy
as a form of psychotherapy, but see it only as an arena for abstract speculation, controversy, and
other forms of self-aggrandizement.
For this and other reasons, there is no substitute for reading Platos own works. This is made
easier by the fact that Plato was great literary genius as well as a philosopher. Once you get
accustomed to them, Platos dialogues are very easy and enjoyable to read.
I would recommend starting with one or two of Platos early dialogues, such as Charmides or
Lysis. These make for pleasant reading and, while they are not his greatest works, help one get a
feel for Plato.
Eventually one will want to work up to his more significant works: Phaedrus, Symposium,
Phaedo, and of course what is perhaps his greatest, The Republic.
After reading one or two of his dialogues, you might want to read some of the myths which Plato
placed in several of his works. This may help give you an appreciation of Platos mystical and
intuitive side, which complements the more analytical style found in his prose.
Not all translations of Platos works are of equal value. While some modern translations are
excellent, others are not. I generally find older translations, especially those of Benjamin Jowett,
and those the Loeb Classical Library, more than satisfactory. The Jowett translations, all in the
public domain, can be readily be found online. Many of the Loeb editions are also in the public
domain and can be found at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu.
I have also provided several short descriptions of certain key terms found in Platos works which
may assist you.

Bibliography
Maslow, Abraham H. Toward a Psychology of Being, 2nd edition. New York: Van Nostrand,
1968.
Maslow, Abraham H. The Farther Reaches of Human Nature. New York: Viking, 1971.
Uebersax, John S. On Reading Platos Republic as Psychology. September 2014. Accessed 21
Sept. 2014 from satyagraha.wordpress.com.

Link: http://satyagraha.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/on-reading-platos-republic-as-psychology/
Last revised: 26 June 2014