Sensory Perception from Plato's Viewpoint

Sensory perception, which is one of the most fundamental and controversial issues in philosophy and epistemology, assumes a new position in Plato’s idealistic and intellectualistic view. In Plato’s epistemology, real knowledge is unmistakable and within the area of platonic archetypes, which are unchangeable. However, sensory perception is not only mistakable, but it belongs to the changing perceptible world; therefore, it cannot be considered as true knowledge.This paper seeks to investigate the possibility and role of sensory perception in Plato’s thought; a question which requires a close outlook towards Plato’s epistemology and ontology. The research results show that sensory perception is not only possible but it also constitutes an introduction to true knowledge because the perceptible world enjoys the world of ideas and has a position between existence and nonexistence, man as having a soul rather than mere sensory organs, as a knower and science as a recollection.