... minds of his era. Plato, who himself was a pupil of the legendary Socrates, was around 61 years old at the time, and quickly realized that Aristotle was his star pupil. Known as "the mind" of the Academy, Aristotle was deeply influenced by Plato's persona and ethics, but never did he ... let his admiration get in the way of his personal stands on politics and ethics, and vise versa. Just as Plato was studied under the wing of Socrates and later established his own philosophy ... everything else in this world, apparently); what is real, and what is the good life. Let's look at each phil...

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• Grade Level: High School

... , the forms have greater reality than ordinary objects observed by the senses. Thus, true knowledge is the knowledge of forms. These central doctrines of Plato's philosophy are called his theory of forms or theory of ideas." "Ethics. Plato based his ethical theory on the proposition that all people desire happiness. Of course, people sometimes act in ways that do not produce happiness. But ... . Because moral virtue makes up the health of the soul, all people should desire to be virtuous. Plato said that people sometimes do not seek to be virtuous, but only because they do not realize tha...

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... necessarily Socrates final belief regarding the soul, simply a train of thought he found interesting or worth exploring. Aside from many complex discussions of Plato's dialogues, another pertinent topic that related to both Socrates and Plato was their stand on ethics. Plato's The Republic is considered by the majority of philosophers to be the most important single piece of philosophical literature ever written. In it ... Plato argues that men will benefit from being virtuous, even though they would seek no reward, because true virtue is its own reward. There are ... three main points...

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... time regard Plato as the first genuine political philosopher and Aristotle as the first political scientist. They were both great thinkers, Plato and Aristotle each had ideas in how to proceed with improving the society in which they were part of during their existence. It is necessary therefore to analyze their different theoretical approaches regarding their philosophical perspectives, such as ethics and psychology ... . Aristotle to Plato had great theory but which ones would you agree with. Aristotle has his philosophy for the purpose of human nature. He even explains how happiness is...

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... to know." While man enjoyed sensation, like all animals, Aristotle added the practices of experience and memories to the equation of knowledge. He, unlike Plato, accepted that the world was constantly evolving and welcomed the transformations. Additionally, he did not just accept something as being. Rather, he felt man wanted ... Once this knowledge was put into "rules of practice", man was ready to take on the question of Theology (God and his role in our lives), Ethics (virtues, wisdom, and friendship), and Politics (the most authoritative and master art). For Aristotle, God was not ju...

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... reason and what could be known by senses. Plato's most famous writings include the "Republic", where we can learn about his beliefs including ethics, political philosophy, moral psychology, epistemology, and metaphysics. The Metaphor of the Divided Line also created by Plato represents the levels of knowledge one can obtain ... thing is in its form. In this place it is eternal, finite, never changing, and, in turn something that can never be known. Plato's focus was on the idea of a thing as its highest reality. Considering the non-physical the highest intelligible form of ultimate reali...

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... consider the intrinsic values and purposes of the arts themselves, due to which his arguments are flawed in a fundamental manner. In the text, Plato represents his arguments as a conversation between Socrates and Glaucon. Socrates starts his denunciation of poets by comparing them to artists. He states that of ... no benefits to a well governed society. There is a very basic flaw in his premise. He judges poetry by the standards of philosophy, ethics and education but neglects to judge it by the standards of poetry itself. It is not the aim of a poet or an artist to teach ... it. If an...

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... for them. Aristotle's philosophy focused mostly on logic. He believed that everything could be explained through science and that conclusions could be drawn if other propositions are true. Like Plato, he believed that humans want happiness, but all humans. They would find their happiness if they find their function predisposed. He also believed that all humans are rational beings ... and that they should pursue virtual. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had all profoundly affected the entire subsequent course of Western speculative thought. These men greatly influenced the Western world. S...

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... to look at the ethical values that can be placed in the situation of the rhetor. First I would like to define ethics. What are they and how were they ever formed? Ethics as defined by the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary are; the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral ... set of moral principles or values, and a theory or system of moral values. When applied to the use of human subjects in research, good ethics requires that each subject be fully informed as to the purpose of the research before they consent to participate. The second definition I would like ...

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... Mrs. Bramhall, my third grade teacher, always told us, "The only person you are cheating is yourself." That gave way to my realization that there was a paradox in cheating in Ethics class. The irony of which, I found quite amusing. The whole basis of an education is to learn from doing, not from stealing other peoples work. So, onward I trudged into an ... abyss of ethics, of thoughts of what Aristotle would have done. Clearly, in his Nicomachean Ethics writings, he touches on the virtue of making the right decisions. "Aristotle says that the virtuous person decides on virtuous action f...

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... , this is not the case, and even though the basis of their ideas has some small similarities, their take on religion is quite different. Plato takes a dualistic approach in his work, and Aristotle settles for a semi-dualistic, semi-naturalist approach. In the following essay, the theories and ... is not as perfect as the Forms are, and this is why humans and everything on this planet lack perfection (Irwin 112). Nevertheless, Plato believes that souls are immortal and uses this to explain his belief in reincarnation (Irwin 98). He also believes that souls are essentially good, ... that t...

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... will be well governed. Therefore, the other people need to follow the guardians in order to keep the state well functioned. In other words, Plato thinks unity of the state is the key to keep most people happy. If everyone plays their own role well, the state will prosper and everyone ... will be happy. In contrast to Plato, Aristotle was not that interested in seeking absolute truth. Rather than that, Aristotle favors an ideal that is more practical and real at his time ... raise up state problems by not letting the poor benefit from the state's public policy. At the same time, althoug...

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... the weaknesses and exposing the limitations of their arguments. By refuting the flawed logic of his opponents, Socrates shows what is not justice. Plato assigns characters to Socrates" dialogue partners who argue differing opinions. The first is Cephalus, who states that justice is to return what you ... His describes justice as helping your friends and hurting your enemies. He advocates proportionality, to treat others how they deserve to be treated. Plato simply rebuts that we are unable to fairly judge our friends and our enemies because we are biased. The next person that Socrates ....

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... it a long time ago and who actually thought of the things they talked about, and not only remade someone else's thoughts. I chose Plato and Aristotle because they were the first and they really came up with their theories. To compare the political theories of two great philosophers of ... that works perfectly and there are no mistakes in the governing system. I don't think that all societies are in need of such drastic reformation as Plato thinks. I would probably be more interested in Aristotle's idea. Aristotle discovers that the best possible has already been obtained. He says that th...

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... Phaedo before it is really introduced. The basic idea behind the theory of the forms is that in a sense, there are two realities. According to Plato, there is what we perceive to be "real" and what is actually "real". The latter reality is what is actually real. This reality has always ... ever need. However, in the process of being born we forget most of this knowledge and spend most of our life recovering what we once knew. Plato also says that a lot of what we already know can be retrieved through inquiry. For example, we are capable of recalling justice when we contemplate " ... ce...

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... "Imitation is only a kind of play or sport, and tragic poets, whether they write in Iambic or Heroic verse, are imitators in the highest degree" (Plato 26). Sydney believes though, that art as imitation is a speaking picture that teaches and delights. "The real artist, who knew what he was imitating, would ... of himself works many and fair; and, instead of being the author of encomiums, he would prefer to be the theme of them" (Plato 23). This statement by Plato infers that if a poet knew what they were talking about, they would leave behind a legacy of works, not imitations. One simil...

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... is considered to mean equality, in oligarchies, again inequality in the distribution of office is considered to be just, " says Aristotle (Hacker 91). Plato sees the justice and law as what sets the guidelines for societal behavior. Aristotle puts emphasis on the institution of the polis (Hacker 77). This ... polis (Hacker 77). The polis was set up to allow political participation on the part of the average citizen (Hacker 80). This contradicts Plato's theory of one ruling class controlling the political power and all decisions that effect the entire society. The theory of Democracy that...

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... real" or Becoming and Being. He makes the distinction between these two worlds in one of his dialogues, Timaeus. Understanding the distinction between Becoming and Being helps to understand Plato's theory of reality. Plato's world of Being is comprised of realities called Forms, which are the causes of the physical things that exist beneath them - for example, humans, squares, cups, computers, instances ... of justice and beauty etc. The word Form comes form the Greek word eidos, which translates into form in the sense of shape, appearance etc. However, Plato doesn't mean Form in the se...

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... outlooks. Whereas the Stoics tend to regard suicide as a liberation from constraint, Nietzsche views death as a freedom unto or a possibility toward self-realization. Plato It is Plato's doctrine, and none more defensible, that the soul, before it entered the realm of Becoming, existed in the universe of Being. Released [at death] ... the forms. Yet, when the soul is confronted with something resembling the forms, it recollects what it once knew. We call this learning, but Plato believed it is actually recollection. For example, when we see two sticks that are the same length, we say th...

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... and was disappointed to only find a small table with a large book laying open on top. I took a closer look and the only words the book contained were "Plato 328 B.C." I shut the book and was about to leave when I heard a whirling of hidden machines and a bright flash of light, suddenly I was in a ... sunny grove wearing a toga, sitting next to me was a man writing on a scroll labeled "The Republic." I realized must be Plato. Plato: Ah hello my young friend, you must be one Professor Einstein's students. How can I help you? Jacob: I really have to get home if the professor realized ... te...

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... thises," things that have substance. The Universals are called, "suches," they are modifications of things that have properties. In general, we can say that Plato's philosophy is depicted in Allegory of the Cave. The allegory of the liberation of the slave from darkness, deceit, and untruth and the slave's ... its ultimate source. Of course, in order to be the source of knowledge, it itself cannot be a being or a thing known. That is why Plato says of the Good that it is beyond being and knowledge. (Miller, p.85) Aristotle ruthlessly criticized his master"s theory of the Forms, and prop...

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... cannot remember the forms. Yet, when the soul is confronted with something resembling the forms, it recollects what it once knew. We call this learning, but Plato believed it is actually recollection. For example, when we see two sticks that are the same length, we say that they are equal. Yet, there is ... equality before we entered this world. When we see the two sticks of the same length, it triggers the recollection of the idea of equality. Hence, Plato argues that our soul, before it entered this world, had knowledge of the form of equality when it was a part of the invisible realm. ...

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... Greeks. His original name was Aristocles, but in his school days he received the nickname Platon (meaning "broad") because of his broad shoulders. Plato was born in Athens, about 427 B.C., and died there about 347 B.C. In early life Plato saw war service and had political ambitions. However, he was never really in agreeance with the Athenian democracy and could not join sincerely ... be true, were in perfect geometric form; he decided also that since the heavens were perfect, the various heavenly bodies would have to move in exact circles. Also in mathematics, Plato's name is attached t...

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... supposedly wise, to show that they were not. He thought that this questioning would eventually lead to knowledge though, which is virtuous and thereby truthful. Plato's view was somewhat different. He declares that to gain truth you must be passionately devoted to seeking it. You must have a love of truth to ... He also thought that no human could be all knowing or wise, so he must not believe that one person could see all truth. I believe Plato would have seen things differently, he thought there was one truth and we all possessed it to some extent. I think he would say that the ... s...

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... by Muslim scholars. Ancient Greek writings, along with mathematical texts from India, had developed the Arabian scholars into inquisitive, knowledgeable, and methodical thinkers (p. 170). From Arabic, the classic texts by Plato and Aristotle, along with many new scientific documents were translated into Latin. This led to a surge of information into Europe. The works of Aristotle were so highly regarded that Aristotle ... life, reason and faith, led to turmoil. Although, all did not come together harmoniously, at least much thought and reason came out of the ordeal. Even after the death...

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