---
title: The soul according to Plato
description: The soul according to Plato. Plato therefore thought that
  discovering what the soul is like was a divine task and too extensive. Man,
  the only thing he could aspire to is to talk about similarities.
author:
  name: Graciela Paula Caldeiro
  url: http://graciela-caldeiro.idoneos.com
canonical: https://philosophy.idoneos.com/322876/
source: 322876/index.md
---

<h2 id="the-soul-according-to-plato">The soul according to Plato</h2>

Although inspired by the doctrines of the Pythagorics and orphism, **Plato** could be taken by the founder of rational psychology. It should be noted, however, that his thinking changes considerably over time and often resorts to myths and explanations that are simply probable. **Plato** thought, therefore, that discovering what the soul is like was a divine task and too extensive. Man, the only thing he could aspire to is to talk about similarities.

The psychology developed by **Plato** has an intentionality:

**Ethics:** To prove the need to control the instinctive needs of the body and ensure a future retribution to the practitioner of justice, against the immoralism of some sophists.

**Gnoseological:** Establishing the possibility of knowing the Ideas.

<h2 id="tripartite-division-of-the-soul">Tripartite division of the soul</h2>

The Rational Soul

Immortal, intelligent, of a “divine” nature and physically located in the brain.

The unspeakable soul

Mortal, source of noble passions and physically located in the thorax.

The Appetitive Soul

Mortal, source of unspeakable passions located in the abdomen.

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The theory of the soul could also be interpreted as dualistic in the sense that one part of it is immortal and another, linked to the body, is mortal.