Final answer:
True, Plato's Theory of Forms states that objects we perceive in the material world participate in eternal and immutable Forms or essences, which represent their true nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, according to Plato, objects we see participate in their Forms. In his theory, Plato postulates an invisible realm where these ideal Forms exist. Objects in our material world are merely imperfect manifestations of these eternal, unchanging, and perfect Forms. For example, while we may draw a rectangle or sit at a rectangular table, both are imperfect representations of the Form of a rectangle. The material objects can change, but their corresponding Forms remain eternally unaltered.
Plato's theory of the Forms underpins his metaphysical dualism, accommodating both permanence and change. He suggests that the Form is more real than the particular embodied instance of it. For instance, the Form of a 'dog' exists beyond the variations among individual dogs, such as spaniels or poodles, endowing us with the ability to recognize the 'dogginess' of all dogs.
The essence of an object, which is its Form, is paramount in understanding its true nature. This essence is also regarded as the object's purpose. Plato emphasizes that although our senses and perceptions can be misleading, it is through recollection of these Forms and rigorous intellectual contemplation that truth can be ascertained.