Universe of Platonic Thought 2022

30th International Conference “The Universe of Platonic Thought: Plato and European Philosophy”

Valeriia Nikolaevna Trofimova; Saint Petersburg State University (Saint Petersburg, Russia), Student

The ontogenetic status of the animal in the concept of "reverse evolution" of Plato

The study raises the problem of the principle of "reverse evolution" of Plato, formulated by Simondon and based on the works of the philosopher, devoted to the mental activity of man and animal. There we can see several aspects of evolution as mythological foundations, reverse direction, or degradation, as well as its inclusive nature. The author of the study conducts a comparative analysis of the parameters of a specific animal life based on the concepts of Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Plato and Aristotle, based on the philosophical criticism of Simondon, as well as taking into account its reception by modern Russian philosophers.

Keywords: Reverse evolution, Plato, Simondon, animal, animal life, mythological reality, metempsychosis.

In a study that addresses the problem of the ontogenetic status of the animal in Plato's philosophy, it is advisable to turn to the concept of "reverse evolution", introduced by the French philosopher Simondon, as one of the key mythological principles of ancient thought, which still meets many supporters. During the reading in the 1960s course of psychology and sociology, Simondon focused on the problem of species, mental and functional differences between man and animal, for which the philosopher needed to restore the historical and philosophical picture of thought in order to determine the key philosophical attitudes regarding animal life and forms of its evolution. Speaking about the forms that Plato's doctrine of the evolution of animals and humans took, two properties of evolution should be borne in mind: this is its direction and its inclusion. It is noteworthy that J. Simondon not only actualized the classic clash of Plato and Aristotle in his "Two Lessons on the Animal and Man", but also focused on the subject of their dispute - animal life in the light of evolution, adding to it some other points of view. , among which the philosopher singled out Pythagoras, Anaxagoras, Socrates and the Stoics. For example, the concept of animal life in Pythagoras is based on the mythological principle of metempsychosis: the life principle - the immortal soul - moves from one body, be it plants, animals or humans, to another, while Anaxagoras pays attention to the quantitative indicator of the mind of an animal. From this, we can conclude that in the time of Pythagoras the soul was not part of individual reality. In turn, Aristotle was interested in the functional side of animal life, which removes the restrictions of species predetermination. In Plato's Timaeus, on the contrary, we find an exposition of the mythological theory of "reverse evolution", based on the species characteristics of animals, as a result of which animals are the result of human degradation (Simondon 2016: 59 - 68). In addition to the mythological component of “reverse evolution”, the roots of mythological consciousness can also be traced in the trials of animals in ancient times, as evidenced by the decisions of the courts recorded by Plato “to rid human society of filth” by killing and throwing an animal accused of a crime out of the policy. Among other things, we can observe the implementation of the ethical component of “reverse evolution”, because, according to S. Zasekin, Plato constructs a reverse species hierarchy based on “how it should be”, and not “as it is” in reality. Yet, "reverse evolution," admits the relationship between man and animal does not eliminate the animal from the ontogenetic tree, which is considered as the inclusive nature of the Platonic evolution of living organisms.