Plato & Aristotle

Plato and Aristotle

Theory of Forms: Plato proposed that non-physical forms (or ideas) represent the most accurate reality.
Cave Allegory: This is a metaphor for human perception, suggesting that our perception of reality is limited to the ‘shadows’ of the true forms.

Theory of Substance: Aristotle proposed that each thing or object has a substance and accidents. The substance is the nature or essence of the thing, i.e., what it is in itself, while the accidents are the attributes or properties that it can lose and still remain the same.
Doctrine of the Four Causes: This doctrine explains that everything in the world has four causes: the Material cause (what it’s made of), the Formal cause (the design), the Efficient cause (the person or thing that creates it), and the Final cause (its purpose).

Views on Forms: While Plato believed that forms exist in a separate realm from physical objects, Aristotle maintained that forms are intrinsic to the objects themselves.
Epistemology: Plato’s epistemology is rationalist and depends on a-priori knowledge, while Aristotle’s epistemology is empirical and depends on a-posteriori knowledge, which is gained through observation and experience.

Theory of Knowledge: Plato held the view that knowledge comes from inside us and is recalled from past experiences, while Aristotle believed that knowledge begins with sensory experience.
Political Philosophy: Plato’s political theories were based on justice and virtue, whereas Aristotle favoured a practical approach, focusing on the constitution and rule of law.

Influence on Christianity: Both Plato and Aristotle’s philosophies have influenced Christian thought. Plato’s Theory of Forms influenced the Christian understanding of God, while Aristotle’s Theory of Substance and Four Causes influenced the Christian understanding of God as Prime Mover.