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Plato's Philosophy
Epistemology and Political Philosophy derived from Metaphysics.
a. Metaphysics of the Forms: Reality is composed of eternal, unchanging ideals known only through intellectual reflection. (Note the similarity to Parmenides’ views for the Absolute, Unchanging Truth!) Metaphysics is the study of the ultimate nature of reality. Whereas the modern, academic discipline of Physics studies the nature of objects that are contained within reality—with special emphasis on movement and change—metaphysics studies existence (ontology) and our place as rational agents in that existence.
Although the frontiers of modern particle physics seem to be pushing toward metaphysical issues (e.g., the cosmological theories for the first moments of the Universe), there is still a distinction to be drawn between questions about the physical makeup of reality (Physics) and whether and how our understanding determines reality (Metaphysics). It is in regard to these metaphysical questions that our understanding of Plato should begin. Indeed, as has already been remarked, Ancient Philosophy always begins with an understanding of reality. The assumption was that any claims about truth, knowledge, morality etc. must be consistent with an accurate view of reality.
Certainly it would seem a mistake to make claims about such things that contradict our basic understanding of reality. Thus, Plato follows the tradition of emphasizing his metaphysics to derive other parts of his philosophy. Plato follows Socrates and Parmenides in arguing for the absolute necessity of the understanding (reason) as determining the fundamental basis for reality. Like Socrates and Parmenides, Plato recognized that reality cannot occur from the ever-changing landscape of the senses without the mind imposing stability and organization. Plato’s explanation for how this happens is the reality of the Forms: the unchanging, eternal ideals in which material reality must participate...
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