Platonic ideal
/pləˌtɒnɪk aɪˈdɪəl/
a perfect abstract form of which reality is an imperfect copy
Platonic ideal in a sentence
“He pursued the Platonic ideal of justice, never finding it in practice.”
Origin of Platonic ideal
Plato's theory of Forms—perfect templates in a higher realm
Related Words
Cartesian doubt
systematic skepticism to find certain knowledge
Occam's razor
the simplest explanation is usually correct
categorical imperative
act only according to rules you could will as universal law
Nietzschean will to power
the drive to assert and enhance oneself
Kierkegaardian leap of faith
accepting something beyond rational proof
Hegelian dialectic
thesis, antithesis, synthesis—ideas evolving through opposition