Which of the following philosophers is associated with the idea of ideal forms?

The idea of ideal forms is primarily associated with Plato, who posited that the material world is just a shadow of a higher reality consisting of these perfect forms or ideas. For Plato, these ideal forms represent the true essence of all things, existing in a non-physical realm. In his theory of forms, he argued that objects in our physical world are mere imitations of these perfect forms, which are unchanging and eternal. This metaphysical framework suggests that knowledge is not derived from the sensory experience of physical objects but through intellectual understanding of these ideal forms.

Plato's concept serves as a cornerstone of his philosophical thought and distinguishes it from the perspectives of Socrates, Aristotle, and Epicurus, who had different approaches to understanding reality and knowledge. Socrates focused on ethical inquiries and the importance of dialogue, Aristotle later critiqued and developed his ideas about forms through a more empirical lens, focusing on the material world rather than a separate realm of ideal forms, and Epicurus emphasized pleasure and the pursuit of happiness through material experiences.