Socratic Method and Plato's Theory of Forms

The Socratic method involves asking questions to help individuals arrive at new conclusions independently. Plato believed that the story of the slave boy proving innate knowledge through Socrates' questioning showed that humans are born with total knowledge of the world of forms, requiring the soul's reasoning to remember them. This theory evolved through Plato's life as he engaged with other philosophers and adapted his ideas. Plato's emphasis on reason over the senses in acquiring knowledge distinguished him and set the foundation for seventeenth-century rationalism, while also contributing to the study of epistemology. Additionally, Plato's exploration of eternal concepts such as the theory of forms broke new ground in addressing the nature of knowledge and understanding, and he further delved into governance in society, revealing his continuous impact on philosophy.