Why Plato Rejects Tradition in Moral Thinking

Plato is known as a moral rationalist. He believed that reason, not tradition, is the best guide to discovering what is truly right or wrong. In many of his dialogues, especially those featuring Socrates, Plato explores how we form moral beliefs and how we should question them.

Moral Traditions

Moral traditions are beliefs we inherit from previous generations. They are usually passed down through culture, religion, or family. We often accept them without much reflection, simply trusting that they are right because they have been around for so long.

Plato’s View on Tradition

For Plato, traditions are just opinions unless we test and understand them ourselves. Even if a traditional belief turns out to be true, he still thinks it remains an opinion unless it is supported by reason and experience. He believed that moral beliefs need to be examined carefully and turned into knowledge through critical thinking.

From Belief to Knowledge

Plato’s main point is that we should not accept a belief just because it has been passed down. Instead, we need to look at it from all sides by asking questions, exploring real life situations, and seeing if the belief actually works in practice. If it holds up, then it becomes knowledge. If not, we should adjust it or replace it with something better.

Plato’s Rational Approach to Morality

Plato’s rejection of tradition is not about disrespecting the past. He simply believed that truth needs to be discovered, not just accepted. For him, turning opinion into knowledge is how people grow as individuals and as a society. He wants people to think for themselves, test their values, and make sure they are based on reason.

References

The Open University 2016, educational resource, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, viewed 15 July 2025.