The Theory of Forms, which vastly underpins western religious philosophy, attempts to explain our seemingly instinctive moral knowledge. ... In the Phaedo, he reports a conversation in which Socrates argues that the nature of knowledge may demonstrate the soul to pre-exist the conception of the body. ... Plato used this argument as the basis for his doctrine on the Forms. ... This notably strengthened Plato's theory of an independent standard of goodness. ... In a Christian application, the Thomist argument from the gradation of being, was clearly influenced by the Theory of Forms. ...

• Word Count: 2979
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Much of Plato's beliefs on the soul can be found in his dialogues, "The Republic" and "Phaedo," where he describes that he is a dualist; this means that he believed that the soul and the body were two completely separate entities that worked in conjunction with each other to create what we would deem to be a reasonable human being. Plato aims to be able to prove this to everyone through rational logical arguments; most of these are established in "Phaedo." ... He believed that the soul, once the body has died, will go to the world of forms. ... A world of forms is almost impossible for th...

• Word Count: 1130
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate