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Single Idea 24289

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / d. Forms critiques]

Full Idea

You do not, Socrates, have an inkling of how great the difficulty is if you are going to posit one form in each case every time you make a distinction among things.

Gist of Idea

Forms are very difficult, if we must posit a new Form every time we make a distinction

Source

Plato (Parmenides [c.366 BCE], 133b)

A Reaction

For example, is there a platonic form for each of the 39 isotopes of tin? Is there a new form each time humans create a new artifact, such as model 16 of the Apple iPhone? A rather good objection, from fictional Parmenides.

Book Reference

Plato: 'Parmenides', ed/tr. Gill,M.L./Ryan,P. [Hackett 1996], p.135