• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.145
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• pp.195-215
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• 2018

Plato said that our cosmos was created from the union of nous and $anank{\bar{e}}$ in Timaeus. In addition to this, 'the third kind', namely $ch{\bar{o}}ra$, exists already with genesis before the birth of the cosmos. Plato explains this $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ with several metaphors. That is, 'receptacle', 'mother', 'gold', 'space', 'place' etc. From Aristotle to contemporary scholars, generally three types of interpretations are presented. First, $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ is a kind of a 'void.' Secondly, $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ is Aristotle's $prot{\bar{e}}$ $hyl{\bar{e}}$. Thirdly, $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ has two aspects of space and matter. I will accept the third opinion. Plato's $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ has both a spatial aspect and material aspect. $Ch{\bar{o}}ra$ is a place that accommodates all sensible things in itself. On the other hand, $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ seems to be a mother who nourishes sensible things like a child. In this, Plato lacks a logical consistency. The research of $ch{\bar{o}}ra$ can not deviate from the limits of $eik{\bar{o}}s$ logos.