Help on Plato's Theory of Forms: QUCK 10 POINTS!?

Question:1. Plato’s Theory of Forms is his most important philosophical notion. The Forms play a central role in the Republic. Write on the Forms as they are employed and discussed in the Republic. Include in your answer comments on the following issues:
a. How they derived from Socrates’ attempt to specify what, e.g. courage, friendship, etc are.

b. How they are elements of reality and objects of human knowledge.
c. How they are related to the Form of the Good.
d. How can they give guidance to the rulers, i.e. to the philosopher-kings’ political decisions?
NOTE: the forms are first introduced in the Rep. in Book V (475e); also the anaglogies of the Sun, Line and Cave are relevant.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: 1. Plato’s Theory of Forms is his most important philosophical notion. The Forms play a central role in the Republic. Write on the Forms as they are employed and discussed in the Republic. Include in your answer comments on the following issues:
a. How they derived from Socrates’ attempt to specify what, e.g. courage, friendship, etc are.

b. How they are elements of reality and objects of human knowledge.
c. How they are related to the Form of the Good.
d. How can they give guidance to the rulers, i.e. to the philosopher-kings’ political decisions?
NOTE: the forms are first introduced in the Rep. in Book V (475e); also the anaglogies of the Sun, Line and Cave are relevant.

Hello:

You really need to do your own homework, but here is the short short version.

a. Socrates' thing was going around and letting people know what a lot of the time what they thought was true was some how faulty. They had some idea of what it was and what they were looking for in...piety for example...but they lacked a consistent notion...the theory of forms is like this as well.

b. Plato saw stuff around him...take a spear for example...he would have learned that it has to be a certain length...otherwise it was too long or too short and didn't work as well. There is a certain kind of spearhead that is better than others...there is a best way to attach it to the shaft... Eventually one would make a perfect spear...the perfect length and the best head...and so on. SO it is true with ideas.

c. The best thing that can happen to a cog is that it find two other cogs that fit it perfectly...so it is true with ideas and people.

d. The philosopher-king is wise. They would always know that there likely a better answer out there...They would be willing to reason it through.

I hope this helps and it was not meant to be cryptic.

Rev Phil