Does Plato Believe That Being or Change Is More Real? Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 922 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Page 1 of 3

Plato believe that being or change is more real?

According to Plato, one of the greatest challenges of life is the question of "how can humans live a fulfilling, happy life in a contingent, changing world where everything they attach themselves to can be taken away?" (Banach, "Plato's world of the forms"). Plato's 'solution' was his famous metaphor of 'the cave,' namely that human beings are like individuals chained within a cave before a fire who can only see shadows which they mistake for reality, but which are not 'true' reality like the world of the forms. Thus "Plato splits up existence into two realms: the material realm and the transcendent realm of forms" (Banach, "Plato's world of the forms"). The world of the forms is unchanging, while the limited material realm is always changing. The changing nature of the material world is rendered, in the metaphor of the cave analogy, to the flickering lights before the eyes of the gazers. It is insubstantial but it looks very 'real.' Simply because the dwellers of the cave cannot see the truth, only shadows, they are unable to understand what truth is at all -- which is why we need philosophy.

The world of the forms is only accessible through reason, thus it is necessary to detach ourselves from the material and instead solely focus upon the world of the forms, which is eternal.

Stuck Writing Your "Does Plato Believe That Being or Change Is More Real?" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Does Plato Believe That Being or Change Is More Real? Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

"Splitting existence up into two realms also solves the problem of permanence and change. We perceive a different world, with different objects, through our mind than we do through the senses. It is the material world, perceived through the senses, that is changing. It is the realm of forms, perceived through the mind, that is permanent and immutable. It is this world that is more real; the world of change is merely an imperfect image of this world" (Banach, "Plato's world of the forms"). For example, we perceive a horse in reality, but there are many different permutations that a horse shape can take. The world of the forms, in contrast, has a horse shape in its most perfect, transcendent essence. It is 'more real' than the changing material world given "the forms are the archetypes or perfect models for all of the properties that are present in material objects" (Banach, "Plato's world of the forms").

The form of the horse existed before the finite, material existence of the horse on earth and the horse on earth (and all horses on earth) is merely an imitation. After all, like all material things in a state of change, it will ultimately perish but the form will last forever….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Does Plato Believe That Being Or Change Is More Real " (2013, December 18) Retrieved June 13, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/plato-believe-being-change-real-180085
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example