Forms Flashcards
Flux and change (Heraclitus)
Heraclitus was an ancient Greek Philosopher who thought that the world we experience is in a state of constant change which he called ‘flux’.
Dualism (ROF and ROA)
Dualism is the belief in two fundamental entities. Plato was a dualist believing that our world (the Realms of Appearances / ROA) is a physical mutable imitation of the Realm of Forms (ROF) a non-physical, perfect (immutable) reality of pure true knowledge.
Anamnesis (Innate Rationalism)
Plato believes that all knowledge is recollection of the Forms which are present within particulars.
Forms
The element of true knowledge – an Ideal Concept - exists in the World of the Forms.
Particulars
Imperfect copies of the Forms - exists in the World of Appearances.
One Over Many Argument
Argument to support Plato’s Theory of the Forms. Many particulars can instantiate one Form, for example a poodle, dalmatian and corgi all share the Form of dog. We recognise these particulars as similar, even if they do not appear to due to anamnesis of the Form they share.
Meno’s Slave Boy
In Plato’s “Meno” Socrates uses a questioning technique with a young slave boy to show that knowledge is innate rather than learned. By asking the right questions, Socrates helps the boy recollect information about geometry that he had not been previously taught, and would not know.
Problem of Categorisation
Plato’s theory implies that there is a single, correct way to classify objects based on their inherent Forms. However, the problem of categorization highlights the subjective nature of categorization, as individuals may have different perspectives and criteria for classifying objects.
Third Man Argument
If there is even one form of something, there are infinitely many forms of that thing to connect them together; if, for example, there is even one form of man, there are infinitely many forms of man. This vicious regress undermines the coherence and simplicity of Plato’s theory and raises questions about the nature of the Forms.
