Plato and Aristotle: a Comparison

Plato and Aristotle argon two of the earliest known thinkers in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Although Aristotle was a student of Plato, the two had some very contrasting ideas.MetaphysicsPlato and Aristotle believed in the ideal of forms, although they had different interpretations of the concept. Platos take on metaphysics digest be labeled as dualism. Plato developed his ideas a priori he formulated his own explanations of an ideal realism and applied them to the noticeable world.Reality had two levels for Plato the level of the observable objects, and the level of forms (the ideal). The observable aspect of the world be but imperfect copies of the forms, and observable objects are impermanent, as opposed to forms, which are eternal. Platos forms can be understood as blueprints that get uped outside of the observable, and on which everything observable depends and so these forms are more(prenominal) real than the observable. Plato uses analogies for this explana tion in his allegory of the cave, for example, lifetime immobile pris hotshotrs see but shadows on a cave wall and think that the shadows are the last reality.Although it cannot be disputed that the shadows are real, it is the objects that are casting the shadows that are, in a sense, the true reality. Aside from the well-known allegory of the cave, Plato used a come of other metaphors to explain his metaphysical positionings, such(prenominal) as the metaphor of the sun, and the divide line.Conversely, Aristotle developed his ideas a posterioriby directly observing the world and consequently deriving formulas for this observable reality. His primary concern in this area was causality. Aristotle believed in precisely one level of reality, and he believed that form had no universe of discourse outside of physical, observable reality.Aristotles concern on the relationship of form and subject led to his concepts of causality. He believed that there are four very radical causes that can be applied to anything the Material cause, or, in Aristtles words, that out of which a thing comes to be, and which persists, the formal cause, the statement of essence (which states that anything is determined by the definition or archetype), the Efficient cause, (the primary source of change), and the Final cause, (the end, or the flavour of an action).EpistemologyPlatos epistemology holds that all knowledge is innate, which means the process of learning is actually mediocre a recollection of knowledge buried deep in the reason Plato believed that before birth the soul had a perfect knowledge of everything. This is the rudimentary precept of Platos Theory of Ideas.According to Plato, ideas are permanent and absolute. In Platos view all human actions can be judged through the standard of these cover and absolute ideas, but Aristotle refutes Platos theory on the grounds that Platos arguments are ridiculousstating that Platos arguments are not convincing or lead to c ontradictory conclusions.Aristotle refutes Platos championship that Ideas are absolute, perfect entities outside of human experience, but argues that, on the contrary, ideas be in the mind alone and are simply duplicates or interpretations of things that are experienced. Aristotle claims that all standards are base on things that are first experienced.Aristotle hold with Platos notion that the immaterial (form) and the material (matter) were distinctly separate entities however, he states that forms (or ideas) exist in the mind and are dependent on the observer, and argues that Platos theory of ideas goes by the incorrect premise of absolute universal definitions for material, observable things. moralityPlatos ethics states that thoroughly is born of knowledge and evil is born of ignorance (lack of knowledge). Hence Plato argues that the path to a in force(p) life is purely intellectual.Platos absolutism dictates that there is only one right course of action, one that is true in every bailiwick and exists independent of human opinion or interpretation.On the other give Aristotle adopted a scientific, empirical approach to ethical problems. He believed that in order for human actions to be judged as moral or immoral, they moldiness have a certain degree of health and wealth. Aristotle believed that ethical knowledge is not certain knowledge, like metaphysics and epistemology, but general knowledge.Also, Aristotle argued that the achievement of good mustiness be a practical discipline, as opposed to Platos heavily theoretical approach. He claimed that to become good cannot be achieved simply by studying virtue, but that one must practice virtue in everyday life. He called the ultimate goal of this discipline the Highest Good.Also, for Aristotle the achievement of rapture was by application of the golden mean, which just means rest in everyday life. Aristotle argued that happiness could not be found only in pleasure, or only in fame and honor. He clai ms that happiness can be achieved through knowledge of humanitys specific purpose that is, according to him, by ascertaining the specific function of man.PoliticsIn his policy-making theories, Plato focused on formulating the perfect nightclub by finding ways to cure humanity of its social and person-to-person failures. Plato, in Republic, described the ideal government as having a philosopher-king as its leader, a king with a completely just soul who would thus be able to run a completely just government. Plato in addition argued that since he can imagine such a leader, than such a leader can exist.Platos utopia consists of three non-hereditary classes Guardians, Auxiliaries, and Workers. The guardians are wise and good rulers and upper-level civil servants, the auxiliaries soldiers and lower civil servants, and the workers composed of unskilled laborers.Unlike Plato, Aristotle was not come to with the perfection of society, but simply its improvement, within what he believed were a more real context. Aristotle agreed that Platos government, with its philosopher-king, would be ideal, but did not believe that such a person could exist, and thus dismissed the possibility that such a government could exist, and considers other systems that he believed are more realistic.Platos belief in this philosopher-king reflects his theories of knowledge, which have the a priori approach to reality. On the other hand, Aristotle bases his beliefs on the observable. And claims that since he has never encountered such a completely just man, he must discount that possibility of his existence.Aristotle argues that dividing society into distinct classes excludes men with ambition and wiseness but are not in the right class to hold political power. Another argument against Platos class system is that guardians will, by disposition of their work, be deprived of happiness, and such guardians will naturally assume that the identical strict lifestyle be imposed on all of soc iety. Aristotle set moderation more, in contrast to Platos utopia, which carried expectations to such extremes that it was no longer realistic to Aristotle.Aristotle derived a theory of Democracy, where he puts emphasis on the polis, or city-state, which allows political participation by the average citizen. He claimed that the people at big(p) should be sovereign rather than the few best. However, this is contrary to Platos beliefs, who argues that the publics decisions would be based on mere belief and not fact.Essentially, we can describe Plato as having been in pursuit of a philosophical, idealized truth, whereas Aristotle was concerned with the more bored and realistic concerns of the citizen and the government. Although they had widely divergent views, they had essentially the same goal of a better society.ReferencesSilverman, A. (2003). Platos Middle Period Metaphysics and Epistemology. The Stanford cyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2003 Edition). Retrieved February 24, 200 6, from http//plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2003/entries/plato-metaphysics.Cohen, S. M. (2003). Aristotles Metaphysics. The Stanford encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2003 Edition).Retrieved February 24, 2006, from http//plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2003/entries/aristotle-metaphysics.Frede, D. (2003). Platos Ethics An Overview. The Stanford encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2003 Edition). 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Retrieved February 24, 2006, from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato.Platonic Epistemology. (2006, February). Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved Ferruary 24, 2006, from http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_epistemology.Falcon, A. (2006). Aristotle on Causality. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2006 Edition). http//plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2006/entries/aristotle-causality.