Plato never really had an explicit definition of the Forms. There is no set dialog where the
forms are laid out. Instead they are a running theme throughout the Republic. In this essay I
will try to decipher Plato's ?theory of the forms' in reference to his cave allegory.
Plato first introduces the Forms in book 5 of the republic. Forms for Plato are what he
understood to be the reality behind each concept and object in the visible world. For example
if we look at a football we see that it is round has a certain colour weight ect. If we separate
one aspect of that from the object that is a form, so if we separate roundness form the colour
and weight of the ball we are thinking of the form of roundness. The form of roundness is
transcendent and will always be. Even if every football in the whole world was destroyed the
form of roundness would still exist because it exists outside space and time. The forms
themselves are pure and for Plato are the only true things. What we perceive through our
senses as our reality is in fact wrong. The senses mislead us and blind us leaving us ignorant
to the true reality of forms. The form of the good is the highest in Plato's eyes. When
discussed in the republic those who reach understanding of the form of good are the ones who
will become guardians of the republic.
To explain this Plato gives us the allegory of the cave found in book 7 of the Republic.
Socrates says to Glaucon: Imagine a cave with men imprisoned inside since childhood. They
are chained so that they can only see in front of them. Behind them is a fire and above them is
a road with a small wall. All these men are able to see are shadows cast on the wall from men
on the ...