Chapter 6 - Why are essences, or Forms, the basis of all causation and explanation?

Summary

It is familiar that, in Phaedo 95e ff., Plato argues that causation requires Forms and that Forms are causes. According to the standard and mainstream view, Plato’s argument for this view relies on the view that Forms are self-predicative (i.e., the Form of F is itself F) and that the cause transmits its character to the effect. The chapter demonstrates that Plato’s argument depends on neither of these views. It shows that what the argument relies on is the view that, first, Forms are essences (i.e,. the Form of F is what it is to be F), and, secondly, causation/explanation is uniform (i.e., same cause if, and only if, same effect).