Lecture 2 2 Plato

- for every type of a finished product there is an idea of “the best”, an ideał, perfect model,

- individual objects which are available to our perception are only imitations of forms,

- an object is well-made if it resembles the ideał form; the greater the degree in which the object reflects the form, the better its quality,

- forms cannot be seen by the eyes but they can be seen by the mind: insight (mental view of how things fit together or ought to fit together),

- insight-provoking power of words and philosophical refłection,

- soul retains a memory of forms; Iearning is recollection of what our soul already knows.

V. Plato’s views on art:

- if true reality consists of the ideas of things, of which individual objects

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are but reflections or imitations, then anyone who imitates those individual objects is imitating an imitation,

- art in Plato’s hierarchical scheme of reality:

1/ world of ideas/ forms

2/ imperfect world available to perception (shadows of ideas)

3/ world of cultural works (imitation of the imperfect world; copy of a copy)

- the imitator (artist) is inferior to the maker (craftsman),

- Plato’s criticism of imitative arts: thirdly removed from ideas; appeal to an inferior part of man; harmful to the mind.

TERMS:

THEORY OF FORMS INSIGHT

FORMS/ IDEAS EPISTEMOLOGY

MIMESIS