Plato Second Draft

Plato's Theory of Forms states that non-material abstract Forms or Ideas, and not the material world that we can sense, possess the highest level of reality. He suggests that these Forms are the only objects of study that can provide us with genuine knowledge. However, they cannot be fully articulated. Plato did not believe that words could fully communicate ideas. He stated that words can deceive us into thinking we understand when we actually do not. On the other hand, Forms can give an artist a way to find organic unity, and therefore, beauty. A good social website would attract us not only to itself, but to the idea of beauty itself. It must have a unified theme towards which all of its parts strive.

Plato wrote in dialogues to facilitate discussion. In a similar manner, social media facilitates discussion in the modern age. It should make it easier for people of similar interests to meet and discuss ideas. A good form of social media should not posit itself as a final answer, as the be-all, end-all, but rather as a way to raise questions and open possibilities. Facebook is an excellent example of this. When it first came out, it was a simple way to connect with other people, but as different demands were raised, it added functions such as pages, games, groups, and other services to appease consumer demand. Facebook adapted because it had to in order to stay relevant. Today, it's behind the curve, and now is desperately trying to continue to adapt in order to attempt to stay relevant. I believe that its time has come and gone, however, there are still many lessons we can learn from it as to what makes an ideal social website.

A good social website, then, must have a unified theme. All its parts must work together towards a cohesive whole. It must include everyone. It must be easy to sign up for and should provide a user-friendly experience with detailed guides and an intuitive interface. And it should invite discussion, providing a forum where people can easily share ideas. Facebook satisfied all of these requirements, and thus, when it first came out, it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Good social websites should also seek to fulfill these criteria if they desire similar success.