Nature and mathematics in Plato

It is inevitable for Plato, who put forward one of the highest philosophies of the Greek world, to deal with the problem of becoming. Plato's theory of ideas implies that the true being is the ideas, and all that is outside the idea is in opposition to the true being. On the other hand, Plato's philosophy undergoes a transformation with the Parmenides dialogue. Plato realized that it is problematic to deal with the idea and the phenomenal world in opposition to being and becoming, so he made some changes in his philosophy. The most important aspect of this change is the termination of the phenomenal world's being designed in opposition to being, although it is in becoming. In this way, nature and the experimental world can find a space for themselves in Plato's thought. In addition, Plato's views that nature is mathematical also support the existence of nature. The idea of the mathematicality of nature naturally requires investigating what kind of place mathematics has in Plato. Since Plato does not have a work directly related to mathematical ontology, this subject requires speculation under the supervision of secondary testimonies and in accordance with the general structure of Plato's philosophy. On the other hand, it is controversial where Plato's natural philosophy falls within his thought as the owner of the theory of ideas. In this study, we will discuss the origins of the increasing philosophical interest in nature after noticing the problems in Plato's theory of ideas, and the philosophy of nature that he put forth afterwards, together with the mathematicality of nature.