Plato Summary

Plato Summary

The Forms
1. 2 worlds: Appearances (this world) & Reality (the Forms)
2. Characteristics:
  1. Transendent
  2. Unchanging
  3. Perfect
  4. Archetypes for things that physically exist
  5. Immortal
The Form of Good
1. Highest Form
2. Source and origin of the Other Forms
3. Knowledge of the Form of Good is intrinsic other knowledge, i.e. knowledge is not morally/ ethically neutral
Criticisms of the Forms
1. No convincing reasons to suppose the Forms exist
2. Forms could just be ideas in the mind
3. Unclear link between Forms and the physical world of appearances
4. No proof that the World of Forms exists
5. Aristotle's 3rd man argument
The Cave
1. Tied up prisoners- people trapped in the physical world of appearances
2. Fire and shadows- imitations and copies of the Forms
3. World above ground= World of Forms
4. Sun= form of good, by which other forms are known
5. Cave simile: illustrates the theory of the Forms
The Demiurge
1. Literally 'public worker'
2. Artisan/ Artist/ Craftsman who makes the visible, tangible world
3. The World is the copy of its eternal form
4. The world is less than the eternal Forms
Analysis of the Demiurge
1. No reason to suggest that this is the cause of the World/ universe
2. Judo-Christian concept of God= different because God creates ex nihilo, creation= example of God's providence, and nothing is higher/ greater than God

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	Created by Miranda Daniel over 8 years ago