Research Article

AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS

Volume: 5 Number: 2 October 24, 2018
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AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS

Abstract

This essay aims to offer an interpretation of Plato’s theory of forms, which clarifies the nature of the forms and determine the limits of the theory. In light of the philosophical background that influenced Plato’s thinking, I argue that the theory of forms emerges as a reaction to sophism and skepticism, which were the prevailing philosophical positions by the time Plato wrote his dialogues. More specifically, I argue that Plato responds to the moral skeptics and the relativistic tendencies of the sophists by developing an alternative theory, namely the theory of forms, which is designed to justify the existence of universally valid moral values. Although Plato’s initial motivation was to justify the existence of universally valid ethical truths, his ambition to refute sophists’ relativist arguments led him to undertake a more ambitious project through which he could demonstrate the possibility of attaining knowledge of eternal truths in general. Having determined Plato’s main motivation for and the scope of the theory of forms, this paper will also illuminate the nature of the forms and demonstrate the intransitive relationship between the forms and the particular objects.

Keywords

References

  1. Annas, J. (1958). Introduction to Plato’s Republic, New York, Oxford University Press.
  2. Grube, G. M. A. (1958). Plato’s Thought, Boston, Beacon Press.
  3. Penner, T., (1992). The Cambridge Companion to Plato, ed. by, Richard Kraut, New York, Cambridge University Press.
  4. Plato, (1997). ‘Meno’ in Plato Completed Works, Ed. J. M. Cooper, Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Company.
  5. Plato, (1997). ‘Parmenides’ in Plato Completed Works, Ed. by J. M. Cooper, Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Company.
  6. Plato, (1997). ‘Pheado’ in Plato Completed Works, Ed. J. M. Cooper, Hackett Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Company.
  7. ‘Plato, (1997). Republic’ in Plato Completed Works, Ed. J. M. Cooper, Hackett Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Company.
  8. Plato, (1997). ‘Sophist’ in Plato Completed Works, Ed. J. M. Cooper, Hackett Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Company.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Publication Date

October 24, 2018

Submission Date

August 19, 2018

Acceptance Date

October 3, 2018

Published in Issue

Year 2018 Volume: 5 Number: 2

APA
Vatansever, S. (2018). AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 5(2), 98-116. https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP
AMA
1.Vatansever S. AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi. 2018;5(2):98-116. https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP
Chicago
Vatansever, Saniye. 2018. “AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS”. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 5 (2): 98-116. https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP.
EndNote
Vatansever S (October 1, 2018) AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 5 2 98–116.
IEEE
[1]S. Vatansever, “AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS”, Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 98–116, Oct. 2018, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP
ISNAD
Vatansever, Saniye. “AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS”. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 5/2 (October 1, 2018): 98-116. https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP.
JAMA
1.Vatansever S. AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi. 2018;5:98–116.
MLA
Vatansever, Saniye. “AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS”. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 5, no. 2, Oct. 2018, pp. 98-116, https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP.
Vancouver
1.Saniye Vatansever. AN INTERPRETATION OF PLATO’S THEORY OF FORMS. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi [Internet]. 2018 Oct. 1;5(2):98-116. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA78RF33PP