14. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• Plato begins with the premise
that intellectual truth is more
true than physical truth
Monday, April 15, 13
15. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• Plato begins with the premise
that intellectual truth is more
true than physical truth
• Universal truths such as
absolute beauty, goodness, and
justice exist apart from our
material reality and in a
“spiritual world of ideals.”
Monday, April 15, 13
16. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• Plato begins with the premise • The physical universe is
that intellectual truth is more made up of imperfect copies
true than physical truth of the “spiritual world of
• Universal truths such as ideals” which only exists only
absolute beauty, goodness, and in the mind of the creator
justice exist apart from our
material reality and in a
“spiritual world of ideals.”
Monday, April 15, 13
17. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• Plato begins with the premise • The physical universe is
that intellectual truth is more made up of imperfect copies
true than physical truth of the “spiritual world of
• Universal truths such as ideals” which only exists only
absolute beauty, goodness, and in the mind of the creator
justice exist apart from our • The task for humans is to
material reality and in a come to know the true
“spiritual world of ideals.” reality- the essence of the
ideas behind these imperfect
reflections
Monday, April 15, 13
23. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• What is this a picture of?
Monday, April 15, 13
24. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• What is this a picture of?
Chair
Monday, April 15, 13
25. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• What is this a picture of?
What is a chair?
Chair
Monday, April 15, 13
26. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• What is this a picture of?
What is a chair?
•If “someone sits on” a desk, does it
mean that the desk is a chair...?
Chair
Monday, April 15, 13
27. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• What is this a picture of?
What is a chair?
•If “someone sits on” a desk, does it
mean that the desk is a chair...?
• The chair can’t be defined as
“something you sit on” since
you can also sit on a desk,
stairs, large rocks, benches,
tree stumps, cars, your little
brother or sister, etc….
Chair
Monday, April 15, 13
28. Plato’s Theory of Forms
• What is this a picture of?
What is a chair?
•If “someone sits on” a desk, does it
mean that the desk is a chair...?
• The chair can’t be defined as
“something you sit on” since
you can also sit on a desk,
stairs, large rocks, benches,
tree stumps, cars, your little
brother or sister, etc….
Chair What is a chair?
Monday, April 15, 13
30. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
Monday, April 15, 13
31. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
Monday, April 15, 13
32. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Monday, April 15, 13
33. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Chairs can vary!
Monday, April 15, 13
34. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Chairs can vary!
Chairs do not need to have four legs. They can have three legs, two
legs even one leg or no legs at all.
Monday, April 15, 13
35. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Chairs can vary!
Chairs do not need to have four legs. They can have three legs, two
legs even one leg or no legs at all.
Chairs do not need to be blue or brown or green or any color at all.
Monday, April 15, 13
36. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Chairs can vary!
Chairs do not need to have four legs. They can have three legs, two
legs even one leg or no legs at all.
Chairs do not need to be blue or brown or green or any color at all.
Chairs do not nee to be made of wood or metal. Chairs could be
made of clear glass, several large blocks.
Monday, April 15, 13
37. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Chairs can vary!
Chairs do not need to have four legs. They can have three legs, two
legs even one leg or no legs at all.
Chairs do not need to be blue or brown or green or any color at all.
Chairs do not nee to be made of wood or metal. Chairs could be
made of clear glass, several large blocks.
So what is a chair?
Monday, April 15, 13
38. Plato’s Theory of Forms
Chairs can be used for purposes other than sitting!
A chair can be used to hold a door open.
A chair can be used to change a light bulb
Chairs can vary!
Chairs do not need to have four legs. They can have three legs, two
legs even one leg or no legs at all.
Chairs do not need to be blue or brown or green or any color at all.
Chairs do not nee to be made of wood or metal. Chairs could be
made of clear glass, several large blocks.
So what is a chair?
OR what is the essence of “chairness”?
Monday, April 15, 13
40. The Philosophy of Aristotle
n Aristotle did not accept Plato’s abstract theory of
ideal Forms.
Monday, April 15, 13
41. The Philosophy of Aristotle
n Aristotle did not accept Plato’s abstract theory of
ideal Forms.
n He, like Plato, believed in universal truths or Forms,
but he believed that form and matter were
inseparable.
Monday, April 15, 13
42. The Philosophy of Aristotle
n Aristotle did not accept Plato’s abstract theory of
ideal Forms.
n He, like Plato, believed in universal truths or Forms,
but he believed that form and matter were
inseparable.
– By examining individual objects closely,
Aristotle believed that man could perceive their
form and arrive at universal principles (truths)-
these truths were part of the things themselves.
Monday, April 15, 13
43. The Philosophy of Aristotle
n Aristotle did not accept Plato’s abstract theory of
ideal Forms.
n He, like Plato, believed in universal truths or Forms,
but he believed that form and matter were
inseparable.
– By examining individual objects closely,
Aristotle believed that man could perceive their
form and arrive at universal principles (truths)-
these truths were part of the things themselves.
– Aristotle’s interests then lay in analyzing and
classifying things based on investigation and
thorough research. THE FATHER OF BIOLOGY!
Monday, April 15, 13
44. n This is a Renaissance painting by Rafael called the The School of
Athens (1509-1510), located in the Vatican.
n What aspects of the Classical Period of Greece is Rafael attempting
to capture?
n Greek philosophy?
n `
Monday, April 15, 13
45. Who are these men? How
do you know?
Monday, April 15, 13
46. Who are these men? How
do you know?
Monday, April 15, 13
47. Who are these men? How
do you know?
Monday, April 15, 13
48. Who are these men? How
do you know?
Monday, April 15, 13
