I know that it ran along the lines of a 'perfect circle' that we judge every circle against in order to decide it is indeed a circle. But that the perfect circle doesn't acutally exist-it just like a concept of something that we comparing other stuff to in order to define that stuff a cirle-or whatever.
hope I'm getting across what I'm trying to say lol.
Just want to know who said it so I can find a quote!
2006-12-13 07:04:49 · 12 answers · asked by Bob 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I beleive that was Plato. Search the concept of "the world of shape versus the world of form"
2006-12-13 07:07:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you all have it backwards.
For Plato, the ideal Form -- the perfect circle as a universal abstracted away from all particular circles was the truly Real object, and the particular circles mere imitations.
Realists about mathmatical figures are also known as Platonists.
The position you are looking for is NOMINALISM which denies the existence of such objects-- they exist only 'in name'.
2006-12-13 13:29:43 · answer #2 · answered by -.- 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's Plato.
But Plato switched around the concept of reality from yours. The realm of the "ideal" circle is unchanging and perfect - so Plato decided that that was "real" and this world with all its imperfections was "unreal".
2006-12-13 07:08:04 · answer #3 · answered by anthonypaullloyd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aristotle spoke of the Dvine....or nowadays...Divine Utopia, or the perfect circle......As a mathematician he often described in his philisophical meanderings things along the lines of 'mathematical quandry' or what he coined as "the sophisticates dreams." Many think it Plato, but I'll bet my first phd in philosophy on it...be well, Jack
2006-12-13 07:08:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plato
2006-12-13 07:06:58 · answer #5 · answered by SteveT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plato. He talked about 'forms' I think. The concept of numbers existed - in his opinion - in the ether. Numbers are not actual 'things' but we use them - so where are they?
2006-12-13 07:56:33 · answer #6 · answered by Sara H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plato. I believe you're talking about Platonic realism and idealism.
2006-12-13 07:06:25 · answer #7 · answered by halitobro 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Socrates.
2006-12-13 07:07:02 · answer #8 · answered by Lao Pu 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most of them did that.
2006-12-13 08:12:00 · answer #9 · answered by isis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
william morris
2006-12-13 07:14:28 · answer #10 · answered by mriee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋