Essay On Plato's Theory Of Forms

There isn’t much known about Plato’s early life accept that he was born 428 B.C., both sides of his parents were well off financially and politically, and that he studied under Socrates. Plato was a faithful follower of Socrates, but they did not agree on everything, for instance they had a different view on the education of women. Plato believed that women could be taught and Socrates did not share this view. In Plato’s early 20’s he was very interested in a political career, his Uncle Critas had a major role in overthrowing a democratic government. The Peloponnesian war came to an end with the fall of Athens it was fought between Athens and Sparta during the years 431 BC and 404 BC. Plato served from 409 BC to 404 BC and it was during

Part of the Laws for me uses his concept of the Theory of Forms although where the word “forms” actually comes from in any reference I couldn’t find, scholarly interpretations or a best educated guess. Plato’s Theory of Forms attempts to explain why he changed his view from the Republic to that of Laws – he’s trying to solve ethical problems. This was Plato’s way of trying to prevent people from objectifying the world around them. The only way to promote seeking truth as a way of life is to separate people from the material objects that they hold so dear. Plato believed that the pleasure (the sensation itself) we get from eating arises from a defect in us. We think that it will make us feel better and in the short term it does, but eventually we’ll be hungry again. Wouldn’t it be better to never be hungry again than to always be hungry? According to Plato it would. My personal opinion is that this might be an oversimplification considering he never even theoretically forced his scholars or the people in his dialogs to abstain completely neither from food nor from shelter. Plato’s main idea from abstinence was from greed, excess, and lavishness that was the human condition of his time and in his opinion what killed his teacher and abolished his faith in his political

His studies involving philosophies of life and various other theories are so remarkable that we base most of our ideals of western thought on today, making him a game changer. Plato’s endeavor to bring together excellent minds at the academy, “Let no one ignorant of geometry enter my doors,” was very effective at bringing together brilliant minds for his time and for centuries after. It is obvious to me (as a student) and many other scholars that Plato did not rule his academy with the philosophical ideals that were written in his dialogues. Aristotle was a student of Plato’s and he believed in a “ruler” of the “constituation.” Vs Plato’s theory of “The Guardians” a group of people who helped govern. This in and of itself says to me that Plato did not insist his theories be followed, rather was an astounding teacher in the way that he encouraged open minded free thinking Ideals. Plato was permanently sidetracked on his new course after the academy. He did very little direct interaction with political leaders, while some of his students later became law makers; he was never involved in politics himself while he always had an opinion. This makes him perhaps the best Monday morning quarterback of all time, he always had an opinion (he even managed to get people to listen to it), but he didn’t do anything himself to change the face of politics – we are still