Explain the Concept of Ideals in Plato’s Writings Essay Example for Free

explain the Concept of Ideals in Platos Writings EssayThe unexamined life is not worth living jibe to Plato. He argued that we should always pursue knowledge and ask questions to do this. A key discover of Platos philosophy is epistemology his theory of how we know things. His concept of Ideals, also known as exercises, is Platos explanation of how rightful(a) knowledge fuck be sought.Plato understood that thither ar concepts that we can all recognise in various things, for example the concept of beauty. We all recognise beauty in art, nature, people, or music, and we all register the idea when we hear the word used. Although we can all recognise beauty, our stamps of what classes as beautiful are widely varied and subjective. The conclusions Plato drew from this is that beauty must exist, otherwise we would not know it at all. This is the Perfect Form of Beauty. However, we must have only partial knowledge of it or we would not have subjective opinions.Forms are abso lute versions of concepts and ideas. They are perfect ideas of everything and therefore they do not change perfect things cannot change for the make better and would not change for the worse. They are also eternal as to begin or to stop real is a change. They cannot live in this world as it is constantly changing and forms are unchangeable, so they can only exist in the Realm of the Forms. The form of Beauty is absolute and true it is not an opinion but an idea or concept, therefore no-one can know the real meaning of Beauty as it cannot exist in this world and it is eternal. We will never know forms fully as we are imperfect.Forms take back us knowledge and allow us to have some understanding of the truth. Although, we know that we do not know them fully as we can form our own opinions on things, e.g. what is beautiful and what is not. Forms are in the Realm of the Forms, we can recognise them as this is where our soul originates from, however because they come from there and n ot from where we are, we do not know them fully. Also as they are perfect we cannot understand them fully. In the Realm of the Forms there are Ideals of everything we have a concept of such as Beauty, Justice, Truth, and the Form of the Good.The Form of the Good is the highest of the forms and is the derriere and essence of everything. The Form of The Good represents Platos idea of greatness and is what you should most want. For Plato this was eudaimonia, living a good and fulfilled life. All other forms such as beauty, justice or truth are part of eudaimonia and so part of Good. The Form of the Good is therefore the most important Form as it gives us full and true knowledge of what we should pursue. It is our ultimate goal and the source of all truth and goodness. In this way, it has influenced the development of the Christian idea of God.Plato uses the Cave Allegory to present his ideas about Forms. He does this by exploitation symbolism, by representing the Forms as objects ou tside of the cave. He then represents the Form of the Good as the cheerfulness the sun shines light onto the objects outside, allowing us to see them. The light represents knowledge and the objects represent Forms the Sun shows us the Forms and gives us knowledge. The prisoners journey illustrates Platos concept of Ideals or Forms they provide truth but must be pursued individually and by looking away from things that keep us ignorant.