Plato’s Forms
To begin to understand how Plato answers the question “what is the nature of reality?, one
needs to start with an examination of Plato’s Forms. Plato’s scheme dissects the universe into
“particular things” and “universal forms.” Particular things are those things that we encounter in
our everyday life: trees, desks, chairs, hippopotamus, cars, rocks, oceans, starts etc. Particular
things would also encompass a single act of kindness, justice, fairness, equality, etc. In other
words, particular things are divided into “physical things” and “conceptual things.” They are
things that we inculcate into this world within a scientific paradigm and accept as being real.
Particular things are also imperfect, fluctuating and infinite.
However, Plato makes the bold assertion that the world we encounter with our senses, as
well as those particular instances of a conceptual thing, are but mere shadows of what is really
“real.” The forms are just what the name implies; they are the forms or models (blueprints) for
everything that exists. They are perfect, unchanging and eternal. They exist prior to any
particular things and are responsible for the existence of all the particular things we encounter.
Every tree is made in the image of the perfect form of a tree.
To illustrate, imagine you are going to make cookies and have just rolled out the cookie
dough. Now taking you cookie cutter designed as a tree, you laboriously begin cutting out tree
shapes; however, you begin to notice that every tree you have cut is a bit different from the
others. Yet the cookie cutter remains the perfect image of a tree that you are desperately trying
to transfer to the cookies. It is in this manner that the forms are responsible for all the particular
things in the universe. Yet as philosophers trying to ascertain the nature of reality, we don’t have
this vantage point; that is, we must deduce from a number of particular things what the forms of
that particular thing is. How is this done?
Pick any object in the classroom (a desk will work nicely), and derive a list of the attributes
of every desk in the classroom. Some desks are big, and some are small; some are wooden, and
some are metallic. After creating a list of attributes, take a moment to reflect on the differences
and similarities of all desks, and thing about what it is for something to be a desk. Now focus on
the similarities of all the different desks in your survey, and try to define the essence of a desk.
What are the attributes that all desks must have to be worthy of the name “desk?” Once such a
definition is reached, we are on our way to obtaining knowledge of the universal form of a desk,
or “deskness.” Now begin to contemplate ‘deskness,’ realizing that every desk that ever was or
will be, every desk that has ever been thought of, or will be thought of, will be defined in the
sense that every desk will have at least all of the attributes of the form of desk. Just as two plus
two will always equal four, so the form of “deskness” will never change.
Universal forms are nonmaterial; however, Plato asserts that they exist just as
independently as you or I exist. Yet Plato takes this one step further by stating that the forms are
more real, and superior to, anything in the sensible world. They are the most real things that
exist. They are perfect, eternal and unchallengeable.
1. What two things does Plato dissect the universe into? Explain and give an example.
2. What are particular things divided into?
3. Particular things are also, _______________, _______________ and
__________________.
4. The world we encounter with our senses are called _____________. This implies what,
according to Plato?
5. The forms are _______________, ________________ and _______________. They exist
___________ to any particular thing and are ___________ for the existence of all particular
things we encounter.
6. Explain how the example of making cookies relates to Plato’s forms.
7. Explain what is meant by ‘deskness.’
8. Explain how Plato describes the universal form.
9. Plato states that the ___________ are more ____________, and _____________ to the
sensible world. They are the most ______________ things that _____________.