Plato on Ideas

Short talk, reading and group discussion on the Plato's theory of ideas (or forms), with a reading from his Timaeus.

Plato is perhaps best known for his "theory of forms" – the view that there are eternal ideas which are the ultimate causes of material things. These eternal ideas, he says, have the status of real being – they always are just what they are; in contrast, the objects which are their reproductions in the material world are forever in a state of becoming – rising into existence and falling away into non-existence.
Are ideas real? And in what way do they differ from human concepts? Parmenides says (in the dialogue named after him), if we dismiss immaterial ideas from reality, what is left for the mind to hold onto?
In this our first session we'll look at the nature of ideas, as outlined by Plato in the Timaeus, and explore the implications both for the acceptance and rejection of the theory. (This is the first of three evenings on the subject, the other two being on Sept 5th and Oct 3rd - although each session should be relatively self-contained).

No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

Entrance in free, but donations between £3-5 will be welcomed.

A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust's activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the "London Monday Evenings" page.)

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