Plato vs. Aristotle: A Comparison of Philosophical Ideas
Plato’s World of Ideas
Plato believed that the most important entity is the Idea, residing in the World of Ideas. This realm is the source of all other ideas and the sensible world, granting rationality and meaning. Plato posited a hierarchy within the World of Ideas, with the Idea of the Good at the pinnacle, followed by Beauty and Truth, mathematical ideas, and finally, other ideas. He primarily accepted ideas corresponding to positive moral and aesthetic realities. Access to this world is achieved through reason (dialectic), the highest form of knowledge.
Dialectic and Reminiscence
Dialectic, according to Plato, is the ascent to the World of Ideas through pure reflection, without sensory perception. Reminiscence, another key concept, suggests that knowledge is recollection. The soul, having resided in the World of Ideas before joining the body, forgets this knowledge upon entering the sensible world. A teacher helps to rekindle this forgotten knowledge. Plato valued universal knowledge (mathematics and dialectic) because he believed their excellence couldn’t be explained by empirical experience.
Aristotle’s Emphasis on Nature
Aristotle had two conceptions of nature: all natural things, and the inherent properties of things. He defined nature as the essence of beings possessing inherent motion and change. For example, humans are social animals by nature. Aristotle viewed humans as inherently social, tending to live in communities (the polis). He believed the state is prior to the individual and family.
Happiness and Causation
Aristotle believed the supreme good is happiness, achieved through realizing one’s potential. For humans, this involves fulfilling rational and intellectual functions. He believed contemplative activity is the highest form of happiness. However, he also recognized the importance of ethical and intellectual virtues, tangible assets (health), external goods (economic sufficiency), and human affections for achieving happiness. Aristotle’s concept of cause was broader than the modern understanding. He identified four causes: material (what something is made of), formal (the structure), efficient (the agent of change), and final (the purpose).
Contrasting Views on Knowledge and Politics
Plato considered doxa (opinion) a lower form of knowledge based on perception of the sensible world. Doxa is divided into belief (direct perception) and conjecture (perception of shadows or reflections). Aristotle emphasized empirical observation and the study of the natural world. Plato envisioned an ideal state led by a philosopher king, chosen for their knowledge of the Good and Truth, not by majority vote. This reflects his authoritarian and intellectual approach to politics.