However, Plato believed that concrete knowledge was possible because of core things - because there is a non-material (spiritual, can't be observed scientifically) realm
>
> I agree with Plato on this one, and always have. However, an interesting question is how did he know there was a non-material realm if its presence was what he based his belief in knowledge on?
>
> Ga"do I make any sense at all?"halia

:) yes, you make sense. plato believed that all knowledge is essientially rediscovery of things that we knew when we lived (or our souls lived) in this non-material realm (before we were born). as our soul rediscovers these things, we learn and say we know things - when in fact we've known them all along.

so, as to your question, according to his theory plato knew that there was a metaphysical (non material) realm because he'd known there was a metaphysical realm when his soul dwelt (dwelled?) there. seems a little circular, but....

beth"plato groupie"ina