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Platonism, rendered as a proper noun, is the philosophy of Plato or the name of other philosophical systems considered closely derived from it. In narrower usage, platonism, rendered as a common noun (with a lower case 'p', subject to sentence case), refers to the philosophy that affirms the existence of abstract objects, which are asserted to "exist" in a "third realm" distinct both from the sensible external world and from the internal world of consciousness, and is the opposite of nominalism (with a lower case "n").〔" Philosophers who affirm the existence of abstract objects are sometimes called platonists; those who deny their existence are sometimes called nominalists. This terminology is lamentable, since these words have established senses in the history of philosophy, where they denote positions that have little to do with the modern notion of an abstract object. However, the contemporary senses of these terms are now established, and so the reader should be aware of them. In this connection, it is essential to bear in mind that modern platonists (with a small 'p') need not accept any of the doctrines of Plato, just as modern nominalists need not accept the doctrines of the medieval Nominalists." - "Abstract Objects", Gideon Rosen, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), ()〕 Lower case "platonists" need not accept any of the doctrines of Plato.〔 In a narrower sense, the term might indicate the doctrine of Platonic realism. The central concept of Platonism, a distinction essential to the Theory of Forms, is the distinction between the reality which is perceptible but unintelligible, and the reality which is imperceptible but intelligible. The forms are typically described in dialogues such as the ''Phaedo'', ''Symposium'' and ''Republic'' as transcendent, perfect archetypes, of which objects in the everyday world are imperfect copies. In the ''Republic'' the highest form is identified as the Form of the Good, the source of all other forms, which could be known by reason. In the ''Sophist'', a later work, the forms ''being'', ''sameness'' and ''difference'' are listed among the primordial "Great Kinds". In the 3rd century BC, Arcesilaus adopted skepticism, which became a central tenet of the school until 90 BC when Antiochus added Stoic elements, rejected skepticism, and began a period known as Middle Platonism. In the 3rd century AD, Plotinus added mystical elements, establishing Neoplatonism, in which the summit of existence was the One or the Good, the source of all things; in virtue and meditation the soul had the power to elevate itself to attain union with the One. Platonism had a profound effect on Western thought, and many Platonic notions were adopted by the Christian church which understood Plato's forms as God's thoughts, while Neoplatonism became a major influence on Christian mysticism, in the West through St Augustine, Doctor of the Catholic Church whose Christian writings were heavily influenced by Plotinus' ''Enneads'',〔O'Connell SJ, RJ, ''The Enneads and St Augustine's Vision of Happiness''. Vigiliae Christianae 17 (1963) 129-164 (JSTOR)〕 and in turn were foundations for the whole of Western Christian thought.〔Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine''. Vol 1, ''The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition 100-600; Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine''. Vol 3, ''The Growth of Mediaeval Theology 600-1300'', section, ''"The Augustinian Synthesis"''〕 ==Philosophy== The primary concept is the Theory of Forms. The only true being is founded upon the forms, the eternal, unchangeable, perfect types, of which particular objects of moral and responsible sense are imperfect copies. The multitude of objects of sense, being involved in perpetual change, are thereby deprived of all genuine existence.〔Oskar Seyffert, (1894), ''Dictionary of Classical Antiquities'', page 481〕 The number of the forms is defined by the number of universal concepts which can be derived from the particular objects of sense.〔 The following excerpt may be representative of Plato's middle period metaphysics and epistemology: ()"Since the beautiful is opposite of the ugly, they are two." Book VI of the ''Republic'' identifies the highest form as the Form of the Good, the cause of all other Ideas, and that on which the being and knowing of all other Forms is contingent. Conceptions derived from the impressions of sense can never give us the knowledge of true being; i.e. of the forms.〔 It can only be obtained by the soul's activity within itself, apart from the troubles and disturbances of sense; that is to say, by the exercise of reason.〔 Dialectic, as the instrument in this process, leading us to knowledge of the forms, and finally to the highest form of the Good, is the first of sciences.〔 Later Neoplatonism, beginning with Plotinus, identified the Good of the ''Republic'' with the so-called transcendent, absolute One of the first hypothesis of the ''Parmenides'' (137c-142a). Platonist ethics is based on the Form of the Good. Virtue is knowledge, the recognition of the supreme form of the good.〔 And, since in this cognition, the three parts of the soul, which are reason, spirit, and appetite, all have their share, we get the three virtues, Wisdom, Courage, and Moderation.〔 The bond which unites the other virtues is the virtue of Justice, by which each part of the soul is confined to the performance of its proper function.〔 Platonism had a profound effect on Western thought. In many interpretations of the ''Timaeus'' Platonism,〔cf. Proclus' commentary on the ''Timaeus''; Cornford 1937〕 like Aristotelianism, poses an eternal universe, as opposed to the nearby Judaic tradition that the universe had been created in historical time, with its continuous history recorded. Unlike Aristotelianism, Platonism describes idea as prior to matter and identifies the person with the soul. Many Platonic notions secured a permanent place in Christianity.〔"Platonism." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Platonism」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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