Final answer:
Plato and Socrates viewed the mind through the lens of dualism, considering the mind and body as distinct but interacting entities, with a focus on the realm of ideal forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The view of the mind held by Plato and Socrates can be described as a form of dualism. This philosophical stance posits that the mind and body are distinct entities. Plato, as an exponent of this view, believed in the reality of immaterial forms (ideas) and acknowledged the existence of material substances. However, his emphasis was on the ideal forms, which he considered to be more real than the material counterparts. Socrates, who taught Plato, also explored concepts that align with dualism, though less is known about his writings directly since they are primarily documented through the works of his student, Plato.
According to dualism, there is an interaction between the two substances: the physical (body) and the non-physical (mind or soul). This interaction creates the complete human experience. Dualists like Plato conceptualized a realm of ideal forms, which were true, unchanging, and eternal, as opposed to the physical world, which was seen as changing and impermanent.