The theory of forms and the immortal soulThe idea of ​​the immortality of the soul in relation to the theory of forms of Plato is similar to the idea of ​​a base and a column. Plato relies on the theory of forms and the idea of ​​the immortality of the soul rests on this basis. To understand how and why these two ideas connect, one must be familiar with both. Let's start with the theory of forms. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay To better understand form theory, one must consider the terms in which the theory was created. The theory of forms constituted a direct challenge to the pre-Socratic philosophers. Before Socrates and the theory of forms, many philosophers supported the notion of an ever-changing world. Socrates argued that an ever-changing world was unreliable and out of perceived need arose the theory of forms. Unlike pre-Socratic philosophy, form theory seeks to prove that there are parts of the world that remain constant. Form theory interprets the world in two different ways. First there is the visible world. The visible world is simply what we interpret with our senses. Secondly, the invisible world, the intelligible world is a world of “forms”. It is best to view the intelligible world as an abstract concept. Shapes are just “ideas” of objects in the visible world. These ideas are far greater than anyone can comprehend, overall they are considered to be the greatest and most perfect representation of the object possible. Forms are universal, but forms can only exist in the intelligible world. Once you visualize form, it is no longer form and enters the visible world. Another important consideration of form theory is that what is visible often changes, but what is intelligible never changes. Shapes make our world constant and allow us to give it meaning. It is only through forms that we can learn. Next, we must understand the idea of ​​the immortal soul. In Phaedo, Socrates argues that knowledge is simply a recollection of what one already knows. As Socrates questions Simmias, the reader is led to the same conclusion of knowledge. As Socrates argues, through our understanding of forms we must understand that there is a form of absolute equality. Furthermore, Socrates asserts, through our understanding of absolute equality, we know that we can only interpret this form through our senses. Socrates then illustrates that through our understanding of absolute inequality and the use of our senses, we are able to understand that our interpretations do not correspond to the form. That is to say, our interpretation of a form and the true form will never be equal. Simmias concludes from Socrates' questioning that Socrates must be right since no other answer is logical. Socrates then goes on to argue that since we are born with our senses, we must have acquired an understanding of absolute inequality before birth. Socrates argues that it would logically follow that the soul is immortal, since not only are we born with our senses, but also with the ability to reason. Socrates describes knowledge as memory. He argues that everything we “learn” is simply remembered from what the soul already knows. The idea that knowledge is memory is the most important element of the immortal soul and its connection to the theory of forms. If the soul is immortal, then the soul is constant just like the.