Being And Becoming

8 Pages 2123 Words

The Significance of the Two Levels: Being and Becoming, in Plato’s Theory of Forms

Plato has been a significantly great influence not only on other philosophers of his time but people in general of his time and people on into the present and probably into the future. Plato’s theory of forms is specifically one of the most interesting topics within his many philosophies to discuss and also one of the most criticized. To understand Plato’s theory of forms, one must have knowledge of Plato and his life, specifically his familial background. Knowing about Plato will then create a path to understanding the quandaries in which Plato was aiming to solve. Thus, the meaning and explanation of his theory of forms can be revealed coincidently discovering the significance of the two levels of Being and Becoming.
Plato was born in Athens in 427 b.c. during the time of the war with Sparta. Plato was born into a family of eminent Athenian noblemen. Plato’s descendents included Solon, Poseidon, his uncle Charmides and his cousin Critias. Plato’s political background influenced his life tremendously, specifically during the Peloponnesian War. Plato was a firm follower and believer in Socrates and his teachings. Plato believed that Socrates death corroborated his own aristocratic biases and his reasoning of why Sparta won the war. Plato believed that, “a bad state breeds only bad men; that a good man cannot live in
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such a state; and that a state ruled by the many is inevitably bad....”. (Jones, 119) As a result he vacated his direct involvement in politics, and tried to figure out what makes a true good state. Plato was also in disagreement with the Sophists idea that, “….there is no truth in the spheres of morality and politics, but only private prejudice.” (Jones, 121) To prove this notion wrong he would have to do more than just prove this notion wrong. To prove this notion wrong he would have to come up with ...