Final answer:
Plato believed truth could be obtained through contemplation and understanding of immutable Forms in a higher realm, beyond sensory perception, by using critical thinking and reasoning to arrive at essential truths.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plato believed that truth could be obtained through rigorous contemplation, discussion, and understanding of the world of Forms or ideals. He posited that our senses are deceptive and it's only through the intellect that we can apprehend truth. In essence, the material world is an illusion, and true reality exists in a higher realm of unchanging Forms, such as goodness and beauty. This philosophical approach necessitates the use of critical thinking, abstraction, and inductive reasoning to apprehend essential truths about the universe and our existence within it.
Regarding Plato's assertion that the idea of good appears last in the world of knowledge, this reflects his belief in a structured, hierarchical approach to understanding. To agree or disagree with this statement requires one to engage with Plato's idea that the understanding of good is an advanced stage in the knowledge-seeking process, something that emerges after grueling philosophical inquiry.