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Plato and Socrates on the Immortality of the Soul: The Theory of Forms
The immortality of the soul is one of the most important topics in the Metaphysics. Both Plato and Socrates contributed
significantly to this most important humanly metaphysical quest. What the Plato is trying to express seems having a logical way that the sensible objects are only semi-real and occupy an intermediate position between what is completely real (the forms) and what is completely unreal. In "Phaedo" Socrates talks about 'Forms'. However, it seems fair to call it Plato's 'Theory of Forms' because the essential reality, the form or idea-Plato's view of it is what takes him beyond Socrates to a distinctive doctrine of his own. In "Phaedo,” there are the arguments based on the theory of Forms, and it seems to lead to establish that soul is immortal as the argument for immortality in the "Phaedo" were largely on the simple and uniform nature of the soul and its kinship thereby with the Forms.
It seems that Plato's view the soul is the bridge between this world (sensible world) and 'hidden world' (as he calls) and throughout it, we can comprehend and gain knowledge of both worlds. Once the forms have made their appearance, it is by means of the soul and its functions that Plato endeavors to bridge the gap between the two worlds. However, it also seems that his concern is to get knowledge of hidden world. Moreover, Plato's effort throughout the "Phaedo" is to show that the immortality of the soul is somehow involved in its relation to the Form. It seems acceptable to consider first the Theory of Forms and then how Plato uses it to argue for the immortality of the soul.
It appears hard to comprehend but easy to criticize the theory of forms leading to immortality in modern views we have. However, it seems wise here to first comprehend what Plato was thinking in his own views. To start with, the theory of forms seems the analysis of change of any kind in any thing. This, one of the ways of explanation is so logical and beautiful that it touches intellect of any age. Ordinary things and creatures in the everyday world are mutable. A leaf, which was green yesterday, may be brown today. A change is always a change from something A to something else B, and A and B cannot themselves be things that change. In other words, it seems that (Plato's) one form does not change to the other form itself, so these forms are independent. In this example of leaf, the color changed from green to brown. However, this relation is simple.
However, then Plato brings very intellectual and complex idea of form, which leads us to think about the hidden world, which Plato describes. If we ask for the object which we reason about say sum of the angles of a triangle is a straight angle i.e., general form of shape of the triangular. We reason about the visible, permanent, perfect, unchanging and opposite free triangle. It seems that Plato puts this triangle in hidden world and we draw all other triangles from the thought of the triangle. It is wise to mention that, while these ideas are leading us to hidden world, this idea of triangle and triangles, give idea of "one over many" which is also one description of Forms. In all triangles, there is one thing common, that is, shape of the triangular.
We cannot count all leaves in the forest but we know one thing that there is one thing common among all kinds of leaves and that is "leaf." It implies that "leaf" is 'Form". Metaphorically, it seems wonder of wisdom tree and Plato is gardener of it, putting the idea that we may not see all things but from the 'Form" they have we can know about them in certain sense. With Greek's mathematical touch, Plato puts mathematical thought into the theory of Forms. The nature of numbers and of mathematical thought is important explanation of Forms.
We notice in the example of triangle that mathematical thought of triangle is a fair example of 'forms'. Moreover the nature of numbers represents what we , what we know about particular things, creatures, etc. in everyday world are tensed truths for example we cannot say that 49 used to be a square number. If this statement is true, it is eternally or, better timelessly true. It seems that this view leads that 'Forms' are timeless entities. This takes us to 'forms' in a way, which can not be attached to (or attained by) body but soul, because in general ideas we can establish whatever want to by our knowledge and power of reasoning.
In general, the very possibility of thought and language about any subject matter at all, it gives idea that generality, in this way leads to any side of the 'Form.' However, by keeping one thing in mind that forms are invisible to the eye, but the mental organ that sees them, it does not appear in two or more different ways. Therefore, it seems intelligible to take 'Form' as unique for the considered cause, even though we can have many opinions for it. For example, the Form 'courage' can be necessary or not necessary for humans, but 'courage' in itself is a unique 'Form'. Thus, the immortality of the soul is a great the concept from Plato and the Socrates.
Published: August 16, 2007
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