Both Plato and Aristotle are among the most influential...

Both Plato and Aristotle are among the most influential philosophers in the history. Socrates was another famous philosopher who greatly influenced Plato. Plato was the pupil of Socrates and later Plato became the teacher of Aristotle. Although Aristotle followed his teachings for a long time, he found many questionable facts in his teachings and later on became a great critic of Plato’s teachings. Since Aristotle found faults in Plato, hence their work is easily comparable as it is based on the common aspects of philosophy. In this paper I will first explain some similarities and then I shall explain the differences between the theories of Plato and Aristotle. Both Plato and Aristotle based their theories on four widely accepted beliefs†¦show more content†¦Example- he observed that every living creature has eyes which may vary in size and color, yet it has a common purpose of seeing. Even though both philosophers use â€Å"form† to understand objects, yet onl y Plato believes that it is required to gain knowledge , whereas Aristotle believes that it is needed only to study and object and discover it’s function. Plato then tries to explain his theory on human conditioning. In this he explains that â€Å"the human condition is likened to being trapped in a cave facing the back wall only able to see shadows unaware that there is anything else in the world†. However the reality is that there is a world outside the cave that contains the truth of the knowledge of the reality that is needed to gain knowledge. It is explained that one man is set free from the cave and it is then he realises that shadows were not reality . However when this enlightened person is sent back to the cave the ignorant people do not accept the reality and criticise him accusing him of being a liar. Plato believed that to gain knowledge we must â€Å"transcend† beyond this world into a higher reality where true realities exist. By doing this Plato is able to ignore the sensory distraction of the body in which he is trapped while also minimising the distractions of the appetites of the body such as food and sex. Plato uses Mathematics as the paradigm of knowledge as it’s truth exists beyond sensoryShow MoreRelatedSocrates: One of the Most Important Figures in Western Philosophy1252 Words   |  6 Pages Socrates was one of the most influential thinkers in the West, even though he left no writings of himself, it was possible to reconstruct an accurate account of his life from the writings of his Greek students because he always engaged them. He was a man with a very strong conviction because he lived his life for the pursuit of knowledge, true wisdom, God’s will, and piety. Though he never wrote anything, his soul source of knowledge about him came from one of his students, Plato. Socrates wasRead MoreSocrates : The Father Of Western Philosophy747 Words   |  3 PagesSocrates is not only one of the most infl uential intellectual to have ever lived, but also one of the most controversial. His ideology, teachings, and beliefs are still discussed, debated, and quoted to this day. Using one of his students, Plato and looking at Aristophanes work, one can draw concluding thoughts on why Socrates brought so much controversy to the table and how both perspectives seem to tell a different story. Socrates was a Greek philosopher between 470BC to 399BC. He is rememberedRead MoreAristotle Was a Greek Philosopher and Polymath2568 Words   |  11 PagesARISTOTLE Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology. Together with Plato and Socrates (Platos teacher), Aristotle is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy. Aristotles writings were the first to create a comprehensive system of Western philosophyRead MoreThe Basic Principle Of Inquiry1195 Words   |  5 Pagesare minor or groundbreaking questions is irrelevant, but the basic principle of inquiry is what constructs the pillars of philosophical thought. As in all things, the beginnings of philosophy were somewhat elementary, but complexity has built as history advances. Philosophy is loosely organized into 2 fields, Western and Eastern. Western philosophy is associated with Ancient Greek, Roman, Western Europe, and later on, the Americasâ₠¬â„¢ process of thought. Being that we are predominantly influenced byRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of Alexandria Essay1520 Words   |  7 PagesReview of The Rise and Fall of Alexandria Book Review of The Rise and Fall of Alexandria How the modern world was actually established is often overlooked and attributed to the powers and domination of Athens and Rome. What authors Justin Pollard and Howard Reid urge readers to understand, however, is the significance that the city of Alexandria had on Western Civilization. Both authors have worked in British and American television, and are accomplished in the film/documentary industry. ReidRead MoreComparing The Religions Of Hinduism And Buddhism Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pagescommon people of India ? Both Hinduism and Buddhism are prominent religions in the ancient and modern world. They are arguably two of the most popular polytheistic faiths as well. Most people make the mistake of grouping them as one uniform religion, but this is inaccurate. Buddhism and Hinduism do split some resemblance, but several aspects of these faiths cause them to be contrasting from one another. The pair have been exceedingly significant throughout history, providing hope to the commonRead MorePolitical Philosophy and Plato Essay9254 Words   |  38 Pages SOCRATES Socrates 469 BC–399 BC, was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Many would claim that Platos dialogues are the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity. Through his portrayalRead MoreThe History of the Greeks: Hellenic and Hellenistic6253 Words   |  26 PagesThe History of the Greeks: Hellenic and Hellenistic The Hellenic Age and the Hellenistic Age are the two main periods in Greek history. The Hellenic Age is significantly different from the Hellenistic Age. The Hellenic period saw the rising and falling of the polis while Hellenistic period was plagued by warfare among the remaining dynasties. Despite the differences between the Hellenic and Hellenistic periods, the one thing that remained consistent in both periods was the Greeks ability to notRead MoreHumanist Art And Philosophy Of The Renaissance1774 Words   |  8 Pagesdiscovery. The work of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the other ancient thinkers have bewildered and amazed people through centuries of study and analysis. However, with the shift of time and belief systems, the central focus of the European culture concerned not secular wisdom but divine inspiration, causing for the period we now refer to as the Dark Ages. But as the flame of the church began to be dampened by suffering and new Humanistic ideals, people like the i mmensely influential Marsilio Ficino beganRead MoreGender Inequality And Its Effect On The Stimulation Of Genocide Essay1297 Words   |  6 Pagesgender that classifies all people into two genders (Benson, 2005, pp.1). Under the binary model, gender is rigid (Ibid). The categorization of genders establishes roles for each sex to accept. In the pre-genocide period, each of these roles was adopted by both genders. Accordingly, the pre-genocide Rwandan society placed ideas of what makes a woman and a man on the basis of traits/ qualities. These roles are prescribed as ideal or the appropriate behaviour for an individual of a specific gender.