This guide takes a clear stance against Plato's Theory of forms and contends it has numerous failings including the existence of a soul before birth. This simple explanation of this portion of the Republic will be helpful in grasping the many arguments against the idea that there is a pure form of all things outside our interpretations. The question what are the forms and natures is difficult to answer. At the beginning of The Republic there is a discussion of justice and what it is. Caphlaus is asked what justice is and he states that it is telling the truth and paying one's debts. However, Socrates offers another argument and states that this is not really the definition of justice. Socrates goes on and says that someone would not return a weapon to a man who had gone insane and would hurt others with it, even if it had been borrowed form him because this would be unjust because it would be creating risks for others. At this point justice becomes not creating risks for others. Easy to read and understand. An excellent place to start.
