... partnership with changeable matter, to produce the objects and examples of concepts, we perceive in the temporal world. These are always in a state of becoming, and may participate in a succession of forms. Plato likens the opinions derived from our senses, to the perception of shadows of real objects, cast upon the wall of a cave. He believed True knowledge however, is the perception of the standard forms themselves, which are real, eternal, and unchanging. Whilst the forms are invisible to the eye, our souls have participated in the eternal world of forms prior to being in material form in a physical body, and retain a memory of them. Although this memory is not readily accessible to the conscious mind, its presence is sufficient, to enable our limited perceptions. Plato maintains however, that the philosopher can achieve a state of perceiving the forms directly, with his mind's eye, by: developing ...

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