PLATO AND ARISTOTLE

Compare and Contrast the Views of Plato and Aristotle



Compare and Contrast the Views of Plato and Aristotle

Introduction

Plato and Aristotle, two philosophers in the 4th century, hold polar views on politics and philosophy in general. Aristotle was the disciple of Plato and influenced by him a fantastic deal. But he differed from his guru in certain respects. Plato condemned poetry, Aristotle appreciated it. Plato set out to reorganize human life; Aristotle to re-organize human knowledge. Plato was a transcendentalist, who arrived at his principles through observation and analysis. Plata was an idealist, too.

Thesis Statement

Contrasting the views of Plato and Aristotle

Views of Plato and Aristotle

In Plato's Republic, moderation is the key and examined through the construction of the ideal city-state to explain how the human soul should be composed. There are clear similarities between the two thinkers' perspectives on moderation and temperance. The first is that they both regard temperance or moderation as virtues rather than vices. In no case does either man qualify his belief by arguing that temperance or moderation could be unwise under certain circumstances. Both also agree that there are vices that correspond to the virtue of temperance. Nevertheless, they disagree in their number. (McEvoy, 1984)

He believed that the phenomenal world is but an objectification of the ideal world. The ideal world is real; the phenomenal world is but a shadow of this ultimate reality. It is, therefore, fleeting and unreal. Aristotle, on the other hand, believed in the reality of the world of the senses. It is on the basis of the study and observation of particular realities that general principles can be induced. Thus, Aristotle moves from the real, to the ideal, from the particular to the general. His methods are inductive. In this respect, he stands at the opposite pole from Plato.

Plato's language is poetic and charming; Aristotle's is dogmatic and telegraphic. There was more originality in Plato than in Aristotle, but Aristotle is more comprehensive and systematic than Plato. Plato used first the word 'imitation' in connection with poetry. But Plato considered imitation merely as mimicry or a servile copy of nature. Aristotle's interpretation of it has a far-deeper significance. For Aristotle, imitation was a creative force. (Frederick, 1993)

Plato likened poetry to painting. Aristotle likened it to music. Plato believed that poetry imitates only the external superficial appearances, and that it is, therefore, twice removed from reality. On the other hand, Aristotle believed that poetry imitates not only the externals, but also internal emotions and experiences. Plato regards that poetry imitates objects as usual, or better or worse than they are. Poetry gives or traces possibility. It explores what ought to be. Plato was critical of poetry on moral intellectual and sentimental grounds. Aristotle has justified all the claims of superiority of poetry on moral, intellectual and haunting grounds. Aristotle used the word 'katharsis' for the first time. (Walter, 2008)

Plato regarded philosophy to be superior to poetry. Aristotle regarded poetry to be superior to philosophy. Plato was of the view that poetry being a false imitation does not have power or scope to ...