All the aspects of society are based on the models of the Forms, or the ideals of perfection. In other words, if we translate this belief into practical terms, Plato's theory really means that we should strive for the highest possible ideals in life.
Although Plato had a great influence on Western thought, there are many thinkers and philosophers who disagree with the basic premises, and dualism, of this theory. For example, the philosopher Emmanuel Kant states that man has certain limitations in his search for truth and knowledge. Unlike Plato, Kant believed that we could not have knowledge of or 'know' the truth that exists behind ordinary reality. He referred to the word of true reality as the noumenal world. However to understand this noumenal world is to understand the "thing in itself'; a possibly that Kant believed was beyond human capabilities. Therefore, although Kant acknowledged that there was a world of perfection that was greater than the world of appearances, yet it was unattainable.
A all the "ideas" that come to us involuntarily (as those of the senses) do not enable us to know objects otherwise than as they affect us; so that what they may be in themselves remains unknown to us, and consequently that as regards "ideas" of this kind even with the closest attention and clearness that the understanding can apply to them, we can by them only attain to the knowledge of appearances, never to that of things in themselves.
Kant still acknowledges the duality of ideal and real, but another more radical philosopher, Frederick Nietzsche, disagreed totally with Plato's idealism. In effect he viewed the concept of Forms and ideals as little more than fantasy and an illusion that impeded human development. He was a materialist philosopher and possibly represents much of the modern opposition to Plato.
It is not possible in philosophical terms to "prove" or disprove Plato's beliefs. However, as a rebuttal...
An argument for Plato's views would therefore be that the very idea of completeness and perfection is an idea that many human beings and every world culture has expressed. It must therefore have some
validity and significance.
Another argument used to support Plato's views of reality is to ask the question; where does out idea of perfection and wholeness originate from? There is after all nothing completely perfect in ordinary reality; therefore the idea of perfection or Forms must be innate in the world and human consciousness. Another view is that the concept of Forms is one which motivates human beings to
excel and is the source of our most successful and creative works. As one educationist suggests, the value of idealism is in itself a good argument for its existence. "What is so special about high standards? High standards make you excel, and to excel you have to look up to something above yourself as you are now. You have to aspire to something. The gravest fault of our
education today is that its content gives us nothing to aspire to."
Works Cited
Kant, I. Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals.
Indianapolis: Liberal Arts Press, 1949, 68.
Mansfield, Harvey. "Education: Where We Stand - the Conservative End of Education." National Review, 3 July 2000.
Plato. Republic. Translated by Waterfield, Robin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Wright, J. The Phaedrus, Lysis, and Protagoras of Plato: a New and Literal Translation Mainly from the Text of Bekker. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1921.
ENDNOTES
J. Wright, the Phaedrus, Lysis, and Protagoras of Plato: a New and Literal Translation Mainly from the Text of Bekker (London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1921), 49.
I. Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals. (Indianapolis: Liberal Arts Press, 1949), 68.
Harvey Mansfield, "Education: Where We Stand - the Conservative End of Education,"(National Review, 3 July 2000)
