معارف عقلی

This paper explores Plato's perspective on the existence and nature of God, thereby delving into arguments for the existence of God and divine attributes. Plato argues for God's existence by asserting that the material world, due to its inherent changeability, requires a cause. He identifies this cause and prime mover as an eternal, self-moving soul, and the orderly movements of the universe indicate a benevolent and intelligent creator. In Plato's thought, God is knowable, and negative theology has no place within his system. Plato identifies God with the Form of the Good, which transcends being, rather than the Form of the Good being a blueprint according to which God creates the cosmos. Therefore, the Form of the Good, as a final cause for God, is not a correct interpretation. Given that the Form of the Good is God and transcends all other Forms, and that other beings are emanations from Him, unity and knowledge are also attributed to Him. The methodology employed in this research to examine this issue is library-based and analytical.