Plato's Ontological Egalitarianism

Fundamentality is said in many ways. More generally, there is both ontological fundamentality and epistemological fundamentality. At that general level, both Plato and Aristotle agree that the nonspatiotemporal entities (Forms or Universals, respectively) are epistemologically fundamental as compared with the spatiotemporal entities (perceptibles or substances, respectively). Both of them agree that it is by reasoning well about our perceptions of the spatiotemporal entities that we come to have knowledge of the nonspatiotemporal entities and are thereby able to correctly identify what we are perceiving. The spatiotemporal entities are important (for cognizers) in their search for knowledge but are not fundamental as the objects of knowledge. Plato and Aristotle nevertheless diverge about ontological fundamentality. This chapter argues that it is Aristotle who believes in any sort of ontological fundamentality and that Plato does not. Contrary to the long-standing interpretation, this chapter argues that Plato is an ontological egalitarian through and through.