Plato – The Realm of Forms

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Plato – The Realm of Forms

Source: The Republic, Phaedo, Timaeus (circa 380–360 BCE)

Summary: Plato proposed that abstract Forms—unchanging, perfect patterns—exist beyond the physical world. Material reality is a shadow or imitation of these eternal structures.

Resonance with PET: PET shares the intuition that patterns are fundamental to identity and being. It treats systems as meaningful based on the recurrence and resilience of those patterns.

Divergence: PET is anti-transcendental. There are no perfect templates. Patterns are only meaningful insofar as they serve survival in context. PET rejects fixed ideals in favour of recursive responsiveness. A pattern is not more valuable because it’s ideal—it’s valuable because it keeps itself alive.