Platonic realism

According to Platonic realism, universals exist in a "realm" (often so called) that is separate from space and time; one might say that universals have a sort of ghostly or heavenly mode of existence, but, at least in more modern versions of Platonism, such a description is probably more misleading than helpful. It will make the theory seem less mysterious if we say, instead, that it is meaningless (or a category mistake) to apply the categories of space and time to universals. In any event, we never see or otherwise come into sensory contact with Platonic universals, and they definitely do not exist at any distance, in either space or time, from our bodies. Obviously they do not exist in the way that ordinary physical objects exist. Nonetheless these universals do, according to Plato and other Platonic realists, exist in the broadest sense. Most modern Platonists avoid the possible ambiguity by never claiming that universals exist, but "merely" that they are.

Related Topics:
Universals - Category mistake

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Plato's theory of universals is also called 'Platonism', or 'Platonic realism', or just 'realism' for short. This sort of realism must not be confused with other doctrines called 'realism' in philosophy or in other fields. The word 'realism' is extremely ambiguous; it has dozens of different senses in philosophy and also outside of philosophy. 'Platonic realism' is probably most precise.

Related Topics:
Plato - Realism - Ambiguous

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The theory is expounded in The Republic. And elsewhere: notably in the Phaedo, the Phaedrus, the Meno and the Parmenides.

Related Topics:
The Republic - Phaedo - Phaedrus - Meno - Parmenides

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