Routledge Library Editions: Plato

<p>Did Plato abandon, or sharply modify, the Theory of Forms in later life? In the <em>Phaedo, Symposium, </em>and <em>Republic</em> it is generally agreed that Plato held that universals exist. But in Parmenides, he subjected that theory to criticism. If the criticism were valid, and Plato knew so, then the <em>Parmenides</em> marks a turning point in his thought. If, however, Plato became aware that there are radical differences in the logical behaviour of concepts, and the later dialogues are a record of his attempt to analyse those differences, then Plato’s thought can be said to have moved in a new and vitally important direction after the <em>Parmenides</em>. <em>Studies in Plato’s Metaphysics</em> brings together twenty essays by leading philosophers from the UK and the USA reflecting upon this important issue and upon the questions arising from it. </p>