DENIAL OF PLATO'S THEORY OF FORMS I deny Plato's Theory of Forms on three basic grounds: that the existence of Forms contradicts itself by denying the possibility of negations; that his illustrations of Forms are merely empty metaphors; and that the theory uses impermanent abstractions to create examples of perception. ... Forms, Plato believes, are permanent, self-contained absolutes, that answer to each item of exact knowledge attained through human thought. ... This contradicts Plato's own belief that only natural objects could serve as standards of knowledge. ...

• Word Count: 494
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

A striking example of the influence of Plato on Augustine is Augustine's critical appropriation of the ancient concept of eros. ... In Plato's Symposium, Socrates shares with us the nature of nature of eros through a speech recounting his dialogue with Diotima. ... Augustine also had very different beliefs about sexual desire than did Plato. Plato's teachings taught that through the hierarchy of eros, sexual desire was used to climb the ladder to wisdom. ... Plato agrees that the attraction to an individual body can be distracting, but he feels this distraction can be resist...

• Word Count: 857
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate