Plato’s Theory of Forms

Date

December 12, 2023

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Main takeaways: Plato’s Theory of Forms proposes two worlds: the imperfect physical realm we see and the perfect, eternal world of abstract Forms. Physical objects are considered flawed reflections of perfect Forms, emphasizing their impermanence and constant change. Plato’s Allegory . . .

Main takeaways:

Plato’s Theory of Forms proposes two worlds: the imperfect physical realm we see and the perfect, eternal world of abstract Forms.
Physical objects are considered flawed reflections of perfect Forms, emphasizing their impermanence and constant change.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave symbolizes the journey from ignorance to knowledge, emphasizing the transition from the world of appearances to the world of Forms.
Despite critiques, Plato’s Theory of Forms continues to influence metaphysical and epistemological discussions, shaping perspectives on reality and knowledge acquisition.

Plato’s Theory of Forms is one of the most influential philosophical ideas in history. Although it may look a bit weird at first sight, understanding Plato’s Theory of Forms is essential for anyone interested in philosophy or even the history of religion, since Christianity was heavily influenced by Plato’s vision of a perfect world, situated somewhere “out there.”

The Basic Question Behind the Theory of Forms

Plato’s Theory of Forms is a philosophical concept that explains the nature of reality. The basic question goes something like this:

We can see trees, cats, circles and many other things in everyday life, and we can easily recognise each one as the thing it is supposed to be. But, if we look closer, we never really see anything like a “standard cat.” Every cat is different, and so is every tree and every drawn circle. Especially with geometric forms, they are never perfect. Every circle we can see in our world is either broken, distorted, pixelated, or in a myriad of other ways not “a perfect circle.” In fact, a perfect geometrical circle would need to be drawn with a line that does not have any thickness, and so would be invisible!

So how is it, Plato asks, that we are able to identify circles, trees and cats if have actually never seen a “standard” thing of each kind?

There are two worlds, Plato says: the world of physical objects and the world of Forms. The world of physical objects is the world we see around us, while the world of Forms is the world of abstract concepts and ideas. The Forms are perfect, unchanging, and eternal, while the physical objects we see around us are imperfect, changing, and temporary.

How is it that we are able to identify circles, trees and cats if have actually never seen a “standard” thing of each kind?

For every thing in the real world, there is a “perfect” image somewhere in the world of Forms. A perfect cat, a perfect tree, a perfect circle. Our souls dimly remember these Forms, and by comparing the imperfect things in our world with the remembered Forms, we are able to identify what each thing is supposed to be.