ABSTRACT
Plato famously partitions the soul. In the Republic, the soul is divided three ways, into reason, spirit, and appetite. When the soul is in its best condition – when it is virtuous – reason is in charge, using spirit as its ally to direct and control appetite. Socrates is not saying that some pleasures, pains, and desires are experienced by the soul, and others by the body, but rather that some of the pleasures experienced by the soul are experienced because of its association with the body. Bodily pleasures, pains, and desires pose three obstacles to attaining knowledge. First, pleasures and desires can divert people from the pursuit of knowledge by enticing people to pursue them instead. Second, bodily pleasures and pains can distract people by pulling their attention away from knowledge. Finally, bodily pleasures, pains, and desires can deceive people about what is real and true, causing people to form false beliefs.
