In ancient Greek philosophy, the two philosophers, Plato and Aristotle are prominent proponents of various philosophical schools of thought. Despite Aristotle being highly influenced by his teacher Plato, the two exhibit immense similarities and differences in their articulation of various issues about politics, morality, philosophy and science among others. Evidently, the two philosophers concur and differ significantly on varying matters of logic, politics and human condition among others (Tuominen, 2016). In this paper, a critical comparison of the arguments brought forth by Plato and Aristotle is put forward to understand their ideological standpoints on various matters.
Firstly, the duo had a common standpoint on the suitability of democracy as a form of government. According to Plato and Aristotle, democracy is an ineffective form of government that places the fate and affairs of a society among individuals of less knowledge and competence. In their view, this form of government is fundamentally flawed and brings forth savagery in politics since the individuals tasked with governance may not be in a position of knowledge to preside over the affairs of the society (Herman, 2013).
According to the duo, it is imperative that a society is ruled by intellectuals who yield the monopoly of knowledge on leadership matters. In an analogy, it is proposed that the best flute should be given to the best flute player as opposed to the richest or most handsome man. In this way, leadership should be given to the most knowledgeable leader as opposed to the most wealthy or powerful person.
In thought and senses, the two philosophers are in agreement on the nature, existence and roles of the entities. The superiority of thought over physical senses is supported by the two philosophers. According to Plato, thought is superior to senses and consequently, senses can easily fool an individual. Aristotle, on the other hand, acknowledged the superiority of thought although he appreciated the necessity of senses in determining reality precisely (Tuominen, 2016).
Also, the two philosophers were in agreement on various concerns of ethics and morality. The virtuous nature of knowledge in determining morality and ethics is demonstrated across the continuum of reasoning demonstrated by the two philosophers. According to Plato, the acts of wrong and right deeds are solely dependent on the availability of insight into the virtuousness of the acts. In this way, ethics and morality can be taught through enlightenment and insight into the right and the wrong. Aristotle further postulates that in addition to the knowledge of ethical behaviour, a rational choice and habit of doing the right thing is equally essential (Heinaman, 2017).
Despite the evident similarity in the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, there are clear differences in various instances. For instance, in their theories on the body and soul, the duo demonstrates differences in their understanding of the existence and interactions between the body and the soul. The dualism of body and soul is expressed by Plato where he posits that the two are separate and different where the soul is fundamentally good, moral and reliant on ideas and afterlife. He further presents the two aspects as independent where the soul is superior and more virtuous than he body. This idea is sharply contrasted to Aristotle’s views on the same, where he views the two as mutually interdependent. According to Aristotle, the two entities rely on each other for optimal existence and are intertwined in support and performance. For example, the performance of physical tasks such as movement would not be accomplished without the coordination of the body and the soul, where the soul provides the information on where and how to move. Therefore, in the accomplishment of morality and other human functions, both entities are critical (Heinaman, 2017).
Logically, the two philosophers had varying approaches to developing solutions or arriving at conclusions. In their dialogues, Aristotle relies mainly on deductive reasoning technique which entails a gradual approach from premises to conclusions. Plato, on the other hand, employs a reverse approach of inductive reasoning that seeks to develop premises from a central position of knowledge. These two approaches fundamentally distinguish how the two philosophers analyze matters of importance and develop their philosophy (Tuominen, 2016). For instance, Aristotle is credited for the syllogism of basic logic where deductions can be made from known premises.
Finally, the scientific contributions of the two philosophers are contrasted in their influences and approaches. Whereas Plato was mainly credited with developing idealistic perspectives on science and politics, Aristotle is recognized as one of the first true scientists due to his observatory scientific method that has been modified and used to date. This method involves observation and development of conclusions depending on the observations made as opposed to the Utopian representation of society advanced by Plato. In this way, the two pursue different levels of perfection in developing knowledge on science and other matters (Herman, 2013).
In conclusion, although Plato and Aristotle were close associates in their career, their philosophical similarities are riddled with many stark differences that have informed the progress of their works to date. Moreover, their ideological differences and similarities in philosophy not only influenced ancient Greece but continues to impact ideas to date.
Works cited
Heinaman, Robert, ed. Plato and Aristotle's ethics. Taylor " Francis, 2017.
Herman, Arthur. The cave and the light: Plato versus Aristotle, and the struggle for the soul of western civilization. Random House, 2013.
Tuominen, Miira. The ancient commentators on Plato and Aristotle. Routledge, 2016.
