Platonic form of existence

Question

I was reading that the platonic forms have the following principles

 1. Commonality 
 2. Separation 
 3. Self-Predication 
 4. Purity 
 5. Uniqueness 
 6. Sublimity

But if there is a Platonic form of Existence (in the same way as beauty or the good) then the fourth principle says that this form is made up entirely of existence. But then all the other forms have the principle of purity to. So the form of Beauty contains only beauty and nothing from the form of existence. So it doesn't exist and neither do any of the other forms - which doesn't seem right.

What have I done wrong here. Where is my flaw in this reasoning?

Many Thanks

Answer 1

I think you've become confused with the theory. Forms are in fact universal intelligible concepts that all exist in a higher level with all the characteristics you have listed. So form of Beauty exists just as form of Existence exists. Form of Existence is not unique because of its existence (because all other Forms similarly exist) but because of its essence. Uniqueness of Forms is underpinned by the fact that Forms exist separately and each have a unique essence. So Beauty and Existence as forms are mutually exclusive both in existence (being separate) and essence (distinct/unique in nature) while they both exist.

Answer 2

The best answer, although it may be unsatisfying, is that it's a mistake to ever take Plato too literally. At root, everything he says is just a metaphor to help people conceptualize a deeper level of Reality that defies more straightforward explanations.

This is particularly true of the Theory of the Forms, which rapidly falls apart if you try to make too much of a science out of it. As mentioned in this article, even in the dialogues themselves, Plato admits to certain inconsistencies and paradoxes stemming from the details of the theory.

The point of it all, as is true of every word Plato wrote, is to make you think past superficial appearances to the deeper truths that they hide.