Dissertation
The metamorphosis of change: a study of Plato’s theory of change
This study endeavors to reconstruct Plato's theory of change and motion. The diverse perspectives of pre-Socratic philosophers regarding change and motion provide the context for Plato’s exploration of his theory.
- Author
- YUE, Shenghao
- Date
- 09 April 2025
In his middle dialogues, Plato introduces his first model of change and motion. This model posits that sensible entities undergo generative change between opposites due to their participation in Forms. Certain types of motion, such as spatial motion and the motion of the soul, are considered non-generative as they do not involve participation in Forms. The defects of the first model are highlighted in the Theaetetus, Parmenides, and Sophist, where the role of Forms in generative change is shown to be unsustainable. In his later dialogues, Plato presents a revised model of change and motion. Sensible entities now have an inherent capacity for movement and change, including oscillation between opposites and irregular spatial motion. Generation occurs when an orderly structure is imposed upon a disordered sensible object by the soul.