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Theory of forms

In philosophy and specifically metaphysics, the theory of Forms, theory of Ideas,[1][2][3] Platonic idealism, or Platonic realism is a theory widely credited to the Classical Greek philosopher Plato. The theory suggests that the physical world is not as real or true as "Forms". According to this theory, Forms—conventionally capitalized and also commonly translated as "Ideas"[4]—are the non-physical, timeless, absolute, and unchangeable essences of all things, of which objects and matter in the physical world are merely imitations. Plato speaks of these entities only through the characters (primarily Socrates) in his dialogues who sometimes suggest that these Forms are the only objects of study that can provide knowledge.[5]

"The Forms" redirects here. For the band, see The Forms (band).

Scriptures from Pythagoras suggest that he developed a similar theory earlier than Plato, with Pythagoras's theory specifically proposing that the world is entirely composed of numbers. The early Greek concept of form precedes attested philosophical usage and is represented by a number of words mainly having to do with vision, sight, and appearance. Plato uses these aspects of sight and appearance from the early Greek concept in his dialogues to explain his Forms, including the Form of the Good. The theory itself is contested by characters within Plato's dialogues, and it remains a general point of controversy in philosophy. Nonetheless, it is considered to be a classical solution to the problem of universals.[6]

Evidence of Forms[edit]

Human perception[edit]

In Cratylus, Plato writes:[22][23]

Criticisms of Platonic Forms[edit]

Self-criticism[edit]

One difficulty lies in the conceptualization of the "participation" of an object in a form (or Form). The young Socrates conceives of his solution to the problem of the universals in another metaphor:[26]

Alican, Necip Fikri; Thesleff, Holger (2013). "Rethinking Plato's Forms". Arctos: Acta Philologica Fennica. 47: 11–47.  0570-734X.

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Alican, Necip Fikri (2014). "Rethought Forms: How Do They Work?". Arctos: Acta Philologica Fennica. 48: 25–55.  0570-734X.

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(1957). Plato and Parmenides. New York: The Liberal Arts Press.

Cornford, Francis MacDonald

Dancy, Russell (2004). Plato's Introduction of Forms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  978-0-521037-18-1.

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Fine, Gail (1993). On Ideas: Aristotle's Criticism of Plato's Theory of Forms. Oxford: Oxford University Press.  978-0-198235-49-1. OCLC 191827006. Reviewed by Gerson, Lloyd P (1993). "Gail Fine, On Ideas. Aristotle's Criticism of Plato's Theory of Forms". Bryn Mawr Classical Review.

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Fine, Gail (2003). Plato on Knowledge and Forms: Selected Essays. Oxford: Clarendon Press.  978-0-199245-59-8.

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Grabowski, Francis A. III (2008). Plato, Metaphysics and the Forms. Continuum Studies in Ancient Philosophy. Continuum.

Matía Cubillo, Gerardo Óscar (2021). "", Revista de Filosofía de la Universidad de Costa Rica, vol. 60, 156: 157–171.

Suggestions on How to Combine the Platonic Forms to Overcome the Interpretative Difficulties of the Parmenides Dialogue

Patterson, Richard (1985). Image and Reality in Plato's Metaphysics. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company.  978-0-915145-72-0.

ISBN

Rodziewicz, Artur (2012). IDEA AND FORM. ΙΔΕΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΔΟΣ. On the Foundations of the Philosophy of Plato and the Presocratics (IDEA I FORMA. ΙΔΕΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΔΟΣ. O fundamentach filozofii Platona i presokratyków). Wroclaw: WUWR.

Ross, William David (1951). Plato's Theory of Ideas. Oxford: Clarendon Press.  978-0-837186-35-1.

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Thesleff, Holger (2009). Platonic Patterns: A Collection of Studies by Holger Thesleff. Las Vegas: Parmenides Publishing.  978-1-930972-29-2.

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Welton, William A., ed. (2002). Plato's Forms: Varieties of Interpretation. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.  978-0-7391-0514-6.

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. Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.

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