When I first heard about Plato's Theory of Forms I immedately had the thought that this is very similar to the basic concepts of Object Oriented Programming (OOP). So let's see what are the similarities between the 2 concepts.
Abstract Concepts
- Plato's Theory of Forms: Plato posited that non-material abstract forms (or ideas) represent the most accurate reality. For example, the concept of a "circle" exists perfectly in the realm of forms, while any physical circle is just an imperfect representation.
- OOP: In OOP, classes are abstract blueprints for creating objects. A class defines the properties and behaviors that the objects created from it will have, similar to how forms define the essence of things.
Instances and Representations
- Plato's Theory of Forms: Physical objects are mere shadows or instances of these perfect forms. They participate in the form but are not the form itself.
- OOP: Objects are instances of classes. They are concrete representations of the abstract class, embodying the properties and behaviors defined by the class.
Hierarchy and Inheritance
- Plato's Theory of Forms: Forms can have hierarchical relationships. For example, the form of "animal" can encompass the forms of "dog," "cat," etc.
- OOP: Inheritance allows classes to derive from other classes, creating a hierarchy. A base class (like "Animal") can have derived classes (like "Dog" and "Cat") that inherit its properties and methods.
Universality and Reusability
- Plato's Theory of Forms: Forms are universal and can be applied to many instances. The form of "beauty" can be found in various beautiful objects.
- OOP: Classes are designed to be reusable. A class can be instantiated multiple times to create different objects that share the same structure and behavior.
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