What is the Meaning & Definition of Exemplarism

The exemplarism is a philosophical theory recognized especially by proposals which promptly made it great philosophers such as Plato and Augustine, taking clear is the extensive approach that promptly was Plato. According to this theory the things that exist in our world are nothing more than mere copies, shadows of exemplary realities.
In the philosophy of the great Greek philosopher Plato we can see it through his theory of Ideas. Because the holding things, real-world objects are not more than shadows of eternal forms, of ideas; These last are the only ones able to be truly known. Meanwhile, the perception of the shadows, the world, as we see it, hear it or feel it is mere opinion.
Meanwhile, the main concern of the philosopher must be just the known forms, the eternal ideas and to rest in this knowledge through instruction guide.
As we all know the influence of the Platonic theory was fantastic over the years. Especially in the third century A.D. came what is called Neoplatonism which greatly appreciated his thinking. Already at that time with the Christianity booming, even many theologians took up these ideas and combined them with the doctrine of God. Augustine was one of them and therefore is that Platonism is considered essential in the development of Christianity.
The theology of St. Augustine was very steeped in the exemplarism holding Plato. St. Augustine returned to that platoniano about thinking that the things of the world are nothing more than representations and copies of exemplary realities and then those ideas placed them in the word of God. God creates the world thanks to the ideas copies that exist on it, the world therefore is a reflection of the divine ideas. Meanwhile, things will be so and how much are the realization of these divine ideas and the truth of these things will depend on compliance with them.