great philosophers of ancient greece: plato and aristotle james a. van slyke, ph.d

Great Philosophers of Ancient Greece: Plato and Aristotle

James A. Van Slyke, Ph.D.

Two Philosophers

Plato (428-348 B.C.)Born into wealth and political power

Rejected a political career after the death of Socrates

Socrates’ student

His school, The Academy, located next to his house

Taught both academics and political leaders

Died at the age of 81 at a wedding feast

Two Philosophers

Aristotle (384 -322 B.C.)Born in Macedonia 15 years after Socrates’ death

In 367 B.C Aristotle at the age of 17 moved to Athens and studied at The Academy for 20 years

Tutored Alexander the Great

Aristotle later set up his own school, The Lyceum, outside of Athens

Great library and students

Many free lectures

Theory or Common sense? Plato

Pointing towards the sky

Emphasized theoretical knowledge

Clothed in red the volatile element of fire

Aristotle Feet firmly

on the ground

Clothed in the colors of green (earth) and blue (water)

Emphasized the empirical, what can be demonstrated and observed

Plato’s Thought

The Republic (written 375 B.C.)Sought a definition of Justice

Explores several definitions

Statement of the aims of The Academy

CharactersSocrates – Narrator

Glaucon and AdeimantusPrimary respondents, elder brothers of Plato

ThrasymachusSophist

The Republic

Definitions of Justice

Objection of ThrasymachusJustice is not virtue, but foolishness

Used for the interest of the powerful

Self-interest is more important than morality

Objections of Glaucon and AdeimantusMeans to avoid punishment

Gain a good reputation; social approval

Plato tries to show that justice is a good to be sought for its own reward

The RepublicTo understand justice, the philosopher must understand “the form of the good”

Forms – Idea or Essence of something

That which unites things into a particular category

Theory of Ideas The allegory of the sun

The allegory of the cavePhilosopher is sent to rescue people from the cave

From the world of appearance to the reality of the good

The Republic

Plato’s society has three classes1. Ruling class – soldiers

Selected through competition

Philosopher Kings

2. Auxiliary soldiersCarried out necessary functions

3. Farmers and ArtisansGave consent to rulers

Virtuous city is based on a proper division of labor

The Republic

Inner soul is similar to the division of labor in the city

ReasonRules over the tempers and appetites

TempersFight and punish

Anger

AppetiteSexual desire

Hunger, thirst

The Republic

Justice is an individual in harmony with the three parts of the soul; discord leads to injustice

A proper balance of the soul is based on the exercise of reason

This leads to a just person and a just society

Thus, justice or goodness is its own reward

Better to fill the soul with understanding rather than simply fulfilling the appetites

Justice or goodness leads to a healthy soul and a healthy life

The RepublicEducation

ImaginationPoets and Drama, story

BeliefsEstablishing a contingent fact

MathematicsAbstract numbers

Geometrical proofs

Dialectic (philosophical) reasoningproposes a hypothesis and

tries to show that it leads to a contradiction or elenchus if successful the hypothesis is refuted

Tries to reach a premise that is unquestionable

Plato’s Cosmology

Form of the Good

Forms

stars/planets = divinities

humans

animals

plants

inorganic material more order, goodness, beauty, less corruptibility as we go up the hierarchy

Aristotle

More interested in the empiricalClassification of animal behavior

Theories of causationEfficient causation – sculptor

Material cause - stone

Formal cause – forms

Final cause – function something serves

Expanded and reformed Plato’s thoughtHylomorphic view of matter

Form and matter work together; interdependent

Aristotle

Understanding of the soulHierarchy of the soul

Different types of souls provide different functions

plants have vegetative/nutrition – about nutrient, reproductive, grow

animals have animal/sensitive – sensation, locomotion,

humans rational soul – intellect