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Chapter 2 - Why cannot essences, or Forms, be perceived by the senses?

Hippias Major. Phaedo. Republic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2021

Vasilis Politis
Vasilis Politis
Affiliation:
Trinity College Dublin
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Summary

The chapter considers why Plato thinks that Forms cannot be perceived by the senses. It argues that this is because Forms, or essences, cannot be defined by example and exemplar. It shows that this does not mean that Forms/essences can be known only a priori.

Keywords

PlatoessencesFormssense-perceptionknowledge
Type
Chapter
Information
Plato's Essentialism
Reinterpreting the Theory of Forms
 , pp. 23 - 48
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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