Aristotle had a lifelong interest in the study of nature and philosophy. As a Greek philosopher and a student of Plato, he investigated a variety of different topics, ranging from general issues like motion, causation, place and time, to systematic explorations and explanations of natural phenomena across different kinds of natural entities, as well as the study of poetry, theater, music, politics and government. Aristotle's views on the physical sciences profoundly shaped medieval culture, as well as had a large influence on philosophical and theological thinking with Jewish and Islamic in the middle ages as well as Christian theology. In short, Aristotle was and still is, considered a master of his craft, a leader in the field of philosophy and the teaching of the surrounding environment. But when he is compared to Plato, are the two philosophers similar or different? The answer is both.
Plato and Aristotle are two of the most widely acclaimed philosophers in their field. As a pupil of Socrates, Plato went on to become a well known philosopher and teacher of Aristotle. Although young and still learning, Aristotle came to find many faults in Plato's theories and became a great critic of his teacher. Despite his critique, Aristotle was influenced by Plato and so their works are easily comparable in the same fields of study and philosophy even if they are contradictory in subject.
Plato ultimately rejected the claim that the world experienced through the senses is what is real. On the other hand, Aristotle rejected the theory that knowledge must be of what is fixed and unchanging. In order to prove their points, Aristotle had to figure out how knowledge can undergo forms of change while Plato had to give an account of where knowledge could be found. This is where the vast differences occur between the two men. .
The definition of form, which simply is the physical shape or appearance of something, is what both men use to solve their particular problems with the issue of knowledge.
