Charts and Forms

"Graph" redirects here. For other uses see Chart (disambiguation) and Graph (disambiguation).

A pie chart

A chart or graph is a type of information graphic that represents tabular numeric data. Charts are often used to make it easier to understand large quantities of data and the relationship between different parts of the data. Charts can usually be read more quickly than the raw data that they come from. They are used in a wide variety of fields, and can be created by hand or by computer using a charting application.

Certain types of charts are more useful for presenting a given data set than others. For example, data that presents percentages of different groups (such as "satisfied, not satisfied, unsure") might be best represented as a pie chart, allowing the viewer to compare the size of each sector slice. On the other hand, data that represents numbers that change over a period of time (such as "satisfaction between 1990 and 2000") might be best shown as a bar chart (or histogram).

Usage note: many information graphics or diagrams include the word "chart" in their name but are covered in those other articles (e.g., flowchart, org chart, smith chart).

Types of charts

Common charts

• A scatterplot uses Cartesian coordinates to show the relation of 2 or more variables.
• A histogram typically shows the quantity of points that fall within a number of categories (or bins).
• A bar chart is a type of histogram that uses bars to show the values.
• A pie chart shows percentage values as a slice of a pie.

Less-common charts

• A box plot shows information about the distribution (minimum, maximum, mean average, etc.) along a single axis.
• A Polar area diagram (developed by Florence Nightingale) is an enhanced form of pie chart.

Field-specific charts

Some types of charts have specific uses in a certain field

• Candlestick charts are a type of bar chart used to describe price movements of an equity over time.
• Marketers use a lift chart is usually used to highlight performance.
• Project planners use a Gantt chart to show the timing of tasks as they occur over time.
• A phase diagram denotes the equilibrium conditions between between thermodynamically-distinct phases.

Well-known (named) charts

Some specific charts have become well known by effectively explaining an phenomenon or idea.

• The Dalitz plot is a scatterplot which represents the relative frequency of manners in which the products of certain three-body decays may move apart.
• The Nolan chart is a libertarian political chart.
• The Pournelle chart is a political chart to categorize state and rational ideologies.

Charting software

See List of graphing software

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Theory of forms. (Discuss)

Plato spoke of forms' (sometimes capitalized: The Forms) in formulating his solution to the problem of universals. The forms, according to Plato, are roughly speaking archetypes or abstract representations of the many types and properties (that is, of universals) of things we see all around us. There are, therefore, on Plato's view, forms of dogs, of human beings, of mountains, as well as of the color red, of courage, of love, and of goodness. Indeed, for Plato, God is identical to the Form of the Good.

For Plato, the forms exist in what is known as a "Platonic heaven," and when human beings die, their souls achieve reunion with the forms. Plato makes clear that souls originate in this "Platonic heaven" and have recollection of it even in life.

Form and idea are terms used to translate the Greek word eidos (plural eide). "Idea" is a misleading translation, because for Plato, the eide do not exist in the mind.

Several of Plato's dialogues make use of the Forms, including Plato's Parmenides, which outline several of Plato's own objections to his Theory of Forms.

A serious problem for the Theory of Forms is similar to that for Cartesian Dualism, if these Forms exist in 'another world', or are not of the same order of reality as matter, how can they interact with matter to 'inform' it. One standard response was to argue that Forms are part of the same Cosmos and so can interact with matter. But in this case we have the so-called Third Man Problem. If all things (men for instance) have Forms, and things are components of the Cosmos, then Forms are things too and so must have their own Forms ad infinitum... This is not a total refutation of the theory, but its remedy is difficult.

For more information about Plato's theory of universals (forms, ideas), see Platonic realism. See also the divided line of Plato. It is interesting to note that al-Farabi, an excellent student of Plato and Aristotle, didn't even mention the Forms. (cf. "The Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle" by al-Farabi.)

Plato's concept of the Forms found visual representation in the work of Conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth in his work "One and Three Chairs" and other similar works.