Plato and Aristotle
Metaphysics
The idea of metaphysics is a complex idea that focuses on expanding beyond the mere realities of physics within the natural world. In a sense, this goes "beyond physics," in that the study of metaphysics is "devoted to matters that transcend the mundane concerns" expounded by those of practical scientists such as Einstein and Heisenberg (van Inwagen, Peter). So in a broad term, "metaphysics" attempts to delve deeply into the matters that try to understand and explain that with which still has no explanation.
Neither Plato nor Aristotle coined the term "metaphysics," though it does become the name of Aristotle's collective works, which revolved around the subject that would be later known as "metaphysics" (or "ontology"). In attempting to answer the metaphysical questions of "What is Substance?" And "What is there?" both Plato and Aristotle provide ideas that could help them understand these questions. In some respects, both philosophers attempt to discuss the "essence" of a particular subject; while Plato says nothing about a thing having a particular nature, Aristotle argues otherwise. Into the enquiries of a particular likeness and unlikeness of a particular subject, Plato attempts a resolution by impinging on the notion of "opposites." In Plato's explanation, opposites of the Form cannot be copresent within the same subject, ergo "it is only when the opposite is the subject that the restriction is operative" (Scaltsas, Theodore). On the other hand, Aristotle takes the same subject and imbues upon it numerous natures. Aristotle does not rely on the Form idea like his old teacher, but rather builds upon this idea and creates Categories, which introduces the variable of secondary substances and primary substances. In this, Aristotle "departs from Plato by introducing [the] distinction between the nature of a thing and its features" (Scaltsas, Theodore).
2. Epistemology
The subject of epistemology is related much to metaphysics in that it is the nature of which one gains knowledge of matters beyond the physical world. That is, epistemology is the idea of gaining the knowledge, whereas metaphysics is the idea of the knowledge and understanding which has been gained. Plato and Aristotle have greatly differing views on the subject matter; in fact, it can be said that Plato and Aristotle stand on the opposite sides of the spectrum regarding their philosophies on knowledge. Plato argues for a priori rationalism (Kreis, Steven); that is, he believes that the knowledge is inherent within a being, and thus experience is not necessary in gaining understanding of an idea. Aristotle, however, disagrees on this ground, and argues for a posteriori empiricism (Kreis, Steven); that is, he believes that knowledge is only gained after the experience of an event.
Where metaphysics is concerned, Plato argues that knowledge is there, that Forms are the "basic objects of knowledge, and Forms are not in the physical world, [therefore] knowledge must have been acquired at some point prior to [a being's] commerce with the world" (Silverman, Allan). Aristotle, however, argues toward the idea of causality; without cause, there is no effect, and without effect, there is no knowledge gained through experience. Aristotle believes that transient beings gain "knowledge of a thing only when [they] have grasped its cause" (Falcon, Andrea). This all boils down to the idea of Forms and Absolutes; the subjects become the major matters regarding the epistemology of both Plato and Aristotle's metaphysical philosophies.
3. Anthropology
The human condition and the belief of the transient being is perhaps the sole reason why philosophers undergo to further understand their thinking capacities. Humans think, and, as Descartes so perfectly put it, "I think therefore I am." Descartes, however, was not the only philosopher to put forth and ponder the mind-body problem. Are mental experiences related to physical experiences, and if not, why? Plato and Aristotle further expand on this problem by introducing the spirit -- or the soul -- into the equation. Of course,...
This is Aristotle's launching pad for his discussion of politics. To him, ethics and politics are matters of rational judgment, stemming from the natural inclinations of individual humans. This notion is reflected in Aristotle's analysis of the constitutional doctrines of some 158 cities. Essentially, he recognized that every state -- necessarily city states -- exist in unique sets of circumstances that act upon the universal forms of ethics in ways
Aristotle & Metaphysics Aristotle calls the science he is seeking 'first philosophy or theology'. The objective of this study is to answer the question of what does first philosophy or theology consist and what is its object. In addition, this study will ask in what ways that it differs from other sciences and in what sense is it first? In the final analysis this study will answer if Aristotle's 'first philosophy
Aristotle thought happiness was longer in coming, it was the manner of being actualized and fulfilling one's true potential using their own individual gifts: Again, if the virtues are concerned with actions and passions, and every passion and every action is accompanied by pleasure and pain, for this reason also virtue will be concerned with pleasures and pains. This is indicated also by the fact that punishment is indicated by
Plato & Aristotle The Platonic theory of knowledge is divided into two parts: a quest first to discover whether there are any unchanging objects and to identify and describe them and second to illustrate how they could be known by the use of reason, that is, via the dialectical method. Plato used various literary devices for illustrating his theory; the most famous of these is the allegory of the cave in
Certainly, rhetoric lends itself to the discovery of truth, as truth (Aristotle suggests) always makes more intuitive and intellectual sense compared to falsehood, and so equally talented rhetoricians will be more convincing sharing the truth than sharing falsehood. However, critics have pointed out that there is so "tension between Aristotle's epistemological optimism and his attempt to come to terms with rhetoric as a culturally and contextually specific social institution....
Socrates asked them to come forward with their thoughts if they were "still doubtful about the argument." The two proceed to make a sophisticated argument, contrary to Socrates' points, that were counterexamples to the points about the body and the soul that Socrates had been making with such eloquence. It was cross-examination, but it was also a series of new hypotheses that Cebes and Simmias presented to the philosopher
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now