Criticisms Of The Theory Of The Forms

Front 1

Plato's Theory of the Forms is concerned with the Forms of concepts we experience and have an understanding of in our world such as Beauty, Truth, Justice and Goodness and helps to explain where they come from and what 'true' justice is

Back 1

If we can accept that there are Forms of Beauty, Truth, Justice etc. Can we be expected to accept that there are Forms of everything? Such as the form of a chair or the form of a cat?

Front 2

The knowledge of these forms can then potentially be used to make our societies a better place, as Plato believed the leaders should be the ones with a clear understanding of the Forms so that they lead our societies in a Good way, which is desirable.

Back 2

However, Plato never clearly explains the link between the Forms and the world of appearances. ie what is the link between the form of justice and instances of injustice in our world?

Front 3

Plato says that the existence of the Forms is not of the physical world, but in the conceptual 'realm of the forms' where our souls existed before they became incarnate of our bodies
This attempts to explain why we can all recognise these things without having to learn them

Back 3

However, the existence of any other world apart from the world of appearances cannot be proven

Front 4

All of Plato’s assumptions and examples seem at least plausible. As far as the allegory itself is concerned, Plato has considered all of the angles and the possible objections.

Back 4

However, Analogy's all have flaws and this analogy fails to make the distinction between the visible world and the WoF because the analogy contains physical objects. The Sun is a physical object, the fire in the cave is merely a smaller version of the Sun. This does not provide an accurate explanation of the relationship with the physical and the meta-physical