Trying to figure out why I'm thinking of Plato's theory of forms recently, and for the past 30 years.

"The theory of Forms, or theory of Ideas, is a philosophical concept attributed to Plato, that the physical world is not as real or true as are timeless, absolute, unchangeable ideas."
"Forms do not exist within any time period, but rather provide the formal basis for time. Neither are they eternal in the sense of existing forever, nor mortal, existing for only a limited duration. Forms exists transcendent to time altogether. Forms have no orientation in space, nor do they have a location."