return to list of latest ideas

Single Idea 24294

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

Full Idea

The forms do not have their power in relation to things in our world, and things in our world do not have theirs in relation to the forms, but things in each group have their power in relation to themselves.

Gist of Idea

The powers of forms and powers of our world are quite separate

Source

Plato (Parmenides [c.366 BCE], 134d)

A Reaction

This seems to invite the unasked question of how the forms can apply their 'power' to anything other than to other forms. How can the Form of the Good influence human morality?

Book Reference

Plato: 'Parmenides', ed/tr. Gill,M.L./Ryan,P. [Hackett 1996], p.137

Related Idea

Idea 9936 The platonist view of mathematics doesn't fit our epistemology very well [Benacerraf]