Platonists
Ideal realm adherents
Platonists are followers of the philosophy of Plato, the ancient Greek thinker.
They hold that abstract forms or ideas—the Good, the Beautiful, the True—are more real than physical objects, which are merely imperfect copies.
In casual use, calling someone a Platonist suggests they believe in ideal essences underlying messy reality: He's such a Platonist about love.
Ancient Athenian questioning philosopher
Study of existence's nature
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- substancePhysical material with mass
- realityWhat actually exists
- appearanceOutward visible form
being · becoming · nous · soul · cosmology · teleology · causation · first principles
Properties holding across all
- archetypesUniversal symbolic patterns
- essencesFundamental natures or extracts
- particularsIndividual facts or details
- participationAct of taking part
imitation · transcendence · eternity · immutability · perfection · beauty · goodness · truth
Seat of consciousness
- bodyPhysical structure, living thing
- soulInnermost animating essence
- immortalityExemption from death
- transmigrationSoul passing into another body
psyche · intellect · matter · separation · embodiment · ascent · purification · contemplation
Place of instruction
- educationSystematic development of mind
- AthensGreece's capital city
- disciplesDevoted followers of teachings
- studentsThose receiving instruction
lecture · curriculum · discourse · tradition · succession · Neoplatonism · scholarship · transmission
Socrates
Ancient Athenian questioning philosopher
- dialoguesExchanges between speakers
- RepublicState without monarchy
- SymposiumFormal academic conference
Atlantis · philosopher-king · dialectic · Athens · demiurge
ontology
Study of existence's nature
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- substancePhysical material with mass
- realityWhat actually exists
appearance · being · becoming · nous · soul · cosmology · teleology · causation · first principles · demiurge
universals
Properties holding across all
- archetypesUniversal symbolic patterns
- essencesFundamental natures or extracts
- particularsIndividual facts or details
participation · imitation · transcendence · eternity · immutability · perfection · beauty · goodness · truth · justice
mind
Seat of consciousness
- bodyPhysical structure, living thing
- soulInnermost animating essence
- immortalityExemption from death
transmigration · psyche · intellect · matter · separation · embodiment · ascent · purification · contemplation · visible
school
Place of instruction
- educationSystematic development of mind
- AthensGreece's capital city
- disciplesDevoted followers of teachings
students · lecture · curriculum · discourse · tradition · succession · Neoplatonism · scholarship · transmission
Platonistsmaterialists
Prioritizers of physical possessions
naturalists · atomists · Epicureans · mechanists · reductionists
Platonistsempiricists
Philosophers favoring sensory knowledge
sensationalists · positivists · pragmatists · instrumentalists · experimentalists