Plato on the existence of negative formsThe question of the origin and nature of evil in the world has worried philosophers throughout history. The ancient philosopher Plato does not directly address this question in his writings, but it can be argued that the logic of his theory of forms requires the existence of forms with negative meaning, such as evil and evil. In discussing his theory of imitation, Plato alludes to the principle that whenever there are many things of the same nature, there is a form for that nature. In several passages Plato mentions many negative things. It is debatable, however, whether or not the negative has its own positive ontological character for which a form can exist. Before being able to analyze Plato's texts it is necessary to distinguish the different senses in which an object can be considered negative. It will be shown that, although Plato refers in the Republic to a common nature among many negative things, the assumption of a negative form is not in harmony with the hierarchical structure of forms depending on the good, which is also presented in the Republic. A solution to this problem will be presented and analyzed. To understand why it is argued that negative forms must exist according to Plato's logic, it is necessary to first understand the meaning of form for Plato. Plato thinks that forms are separate, eternal entities that exist separately from the sensible world. Plato thinks that objects in the sensible world imitate a particular form and that the form makes them what they are. Plato writes: "As you know, we habitually hypothesize a single form in relation to each of the many things to which w...... middle of paper ......rendon Press), 167-9.[4 ] Ross, 168.[5] Ross, 168.[6] Plato, Statesman, trans. ] Plato, Republic, 608 and 3.[9] Plato, Republic, 609 a 4-7.[10] 6.[11] Plato, Republic, 382 b.[12] Republic, 476 a.[13] Plato, Republic, 507 b 10-11.[14] Plato, Republic, 509 b 11-c , Republic, 508 AD[16] ?509 a 3.[17] Plato, Republic, 509 b 7 - 7[18] Plato, Republic, 379 a 6 - c.[19] IM Crombie, An Examination of Plato?s Doctrines: Plato on Knowledge and Reality (New York: The Humanities Press), 283.[20] Crombie, 283.[21] Crombie, 284.[22] Plato, Statesman, 262 d.[23] 3.[25], 284.