PLATOSTHEORYOFFORMS

ArgumentfortheexistenceoftheForms:

1) Ifwehaveknowledge,thenitmustbeeither(a)ofsomethingpermanentand
unchanging,or(b)ofsomethingalwayschanging.
2) Wecannotknowanythingwhichisalwayschanging,(forknowledgerequiresthatour
truthscorrespondtosomethingclearlydefinable,andonlythatwhichisnot
changingisclearlydefinable.)
3) Therefore,ifwehaveknowledge,thenitmustbeonlyofthingswhicharepermanentand
unchanging.

fourworldstoconsider.....

4) Theworldofappearancesisaworldofendlesschange.
5) Thematerialworldiseverchanging.
6) Theworldofthought/humanmindisalwayschanging.
7) But,theworldofFormsispermanent.

8) Therefore,ifwehaveknowledge,thenitisoftheworldofForms.
9) Wedohaveknowledgeofsomethings.(mathematicalobjects)
10) ThereforetheworldofFormsexists.

SecondargumentfortheexistenceoftheForms:

1) Senseexperienceisnevercertain,sinceallsensationsareinastateofendlesschange.
2) Yetwehaveknowledgeofunchangingrealities(math).
3) ThisknowledgeisexplainableonlyifsomerealmofFormsexiststoproduceit.
4) Therefore,theRealmofFormsexists.

DoctrineofRecollection:

1. Knowingisafunctionofthesoul.

2. Ifknowledgeisnotobtainedfromthispresentlifeofsensationsinwhichwelive,thenit
mustberecalledorrememberedfromsomepreviousstateofexistenceofoursouls.

3. ThispreviousstateiswhatwecalltheRealmofForms,anditmustbearealmof
absolute,unchangingrealities(theForms)andofourdisembodiedsoulswhichareableto
understandandknowthem.

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4. Thisdoctrineofknowingasrecollectionrequiresthefurtherdoctrineofthepre
existenceofthesoul.

5. Platobelievedthistheorycouldaccountfortheknowledgewedohave,whereas
empiricismcannotaccountforit.

6. Values:knowledgeispossibleherebecausethereareFormscorrespondingto
values...moralsandaesthetics.

PlatosDIVIDEDLINEtoillustratethelevelsofawarenessforhumanbeings,andthe
levelsofrealitywhichcorrespondtotheseawarenesslevels.