Plato

Question 1

Why create this theory ? What questions does it help answer?

Answer 1

How do we acquire true knowledge?
Is some knowledge innate?
Can we gain knowledge from reason alone?

Question 2

“You can’t step in the same river twice”

Answer 2

Plato rely’s on reason. He believes the truths about the universe are knowable by mind alone. The quote means as soon as we understand one thing it flows and changes. We can never truly grasp it- just guesswork

Question 3

Heraclitus Influence

Answer 3

Took Hera’s idea of everything in the physical world being in constant flux (process of change)
Eg day to night, our cells, river analogy “you can never step in same river twice”

Question 4

Theory Of The Forms

Answer 4

• Every physical thing is not the perfect creation. The perfect example of say a cake exists else where (In the forms)
• we live in world of appearances
• world of the forms exists as a different realm

Question 5

Forms 2

Answer 5

We have an understanding of the forms from birth. As we have been reincarnated from the world of the forms so recognise the true form.
-Plato was a dualist (humans made of body and soul) and our souls immortal (reincarnates).

Question 6

Plato on art

Answer 6

Did not rate it as it was ‘imitation’ leading people away from what’s real.