Plato Flashcards
What makes a tree a tree?
Or a Cat a Cat?
The Form of the Tree
The Form of the Cat
A Particular?
Imperfect version of a Form.
The World we live in?
The Material world
A Form?
The Forms are abstract, perfect, unchanging ideals that transcend time and space; they exist in the Realm of Forms.
Our World shows the ….. of Forms
Shadows and images
Objects in the material world imitate a Form - They are an imperfect copy.
When born, we have a dim recollection of what forms are because…
our immortal soul observed the forms before being incarnated into a body.
The Form of the Good?
The Highest Form.
All objects aspire to be good.
The Demiurge
Plato’s God.
Brings order out of Chaos.
Acts like a sculptor.
Fashions the chaotic matter into the universe.
Platos Chaotics matter.
Raw, random and changing matter that has always existed.
It obeys no rules.
Demiurge Problem: Chaotic resistance
Chaotic matter resisted the demiurge, as it cannot be perfect.
The Uni will never be perfect as its made of pre-existent chaotic matter.
Demiurge Problem: Unchanging Perfection
Uni is in Space-time, therefore constantly changing.
Only that which is unchanging can be perfect.
Therefore Uni must be imperfect.
Nature of the Demiurge.
Not all powerful or loving.
Did not create the forms.
He is morally good, as he is compared to the form of the good.
