Plato Vs Aristotle Research Paper

Improved Essays
Even though Plato’s actual name was Aristocles, similar to Aristotle’s, Plato and Aristotle were two different philosophers during the fifth century BC (Morris). Plato and Aristotle are two notable philosophers, in which, their reasoning’s are still widely known today. However, after reading about Plato and Aristotle, each of them were interesting individuals. There is one major difference between the two philosophers, which is that they have different styles of reasoning. By having different styles of reasoning means, that their ideas and how they perceive these ideas are different. Since Plato is considered to be a “philosopher-king” and Aristotle a “naturalist,” the way that they perceive things are going to be different, which makes them interesting individuals (Soccio 119, 151). …show more content…
Aristotle’s way of thinking – deductive reasoning, makes more logical sense into how we as human beings think and function (“Plato vs. Aristotle”). As humans, we are able to use facts and evidence to make decisions or come to conclusions. By using facts and evidence to come to conclusions, satisfy his scientific thinking. His scientific thinking allows for his naturalist being to make more sense, as he makes decisions in a way that is understanding to mostly everybody. When someone is considered to be down to earth, their ideas are more logical and makes more sense. Not only does Aristotle’s course of thinking help us characterize today’s day and age of human beings but also his reasoning behind happiness. He describes happiness as being engaged in an active life that contains happiness, sadness, suffering, and passionate events. These events reflect what it means for a human being to be well-rounded and life a happy life. Nonetheless, Aristotle’s thinking about the philosophical conditions of a human being relate more to this day and age compared to Plato’s

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The ethical theories of both Aristotle and Epictetus, laid out in their books the Nicomachean Ethics and the Enchiridion, respectively, offer humanity insight into the most effective ways to achieve happiness and to exhibit virtue. Aristotle’s approach to happiness is that it must be looked at as the end to a means not as a means to an end. He feels that happiness should be viewed as the highest good within life. Although Epictetus agrees that happiness is the highest attainable good, he believes that the source of humanity’s misery is people’s inability to differentiate between what they can control and what they cannot. While both philosopher’s theories emphasize the importance of happiness and virtue in a person’s life, Epictetus’ view…

    • 1309 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    I will be comparing and contrasting Aristotle’s and the Stoics’ view of human happiness, and using these theories and views, examining if bodily and external goods are necessary to happiness, and to be able to back up why it either is or is not necessary. The two had many similarities, and differences that can be expanded. The Stoics believed our happiness was based off one thing entirely, and that is virtues. Aristotle breaks down how happiness is the highest possible good.…

    • 2002 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    At Texas A&M, undergraduates and graduates wanting to get a higher education go by the Aggie Code of Honor, “An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steel or tolerate those who do.” (Texas A&M). This quote is one thing Aggies follow and hold very dearly and close them. As I almost complete my undergraduate degree at Texas A&M I understand the Aggie honor code more and more each day as to what it means to me. To me the Aggie honor code is important because it allows me to be proud of a college campus that not only provides a higher education, but a university that provides great communication and network between all students and also be respected all around the world by the great Aggie Network and that till this day and in the future will always be…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Philosophical inquiry, from Plato’s view, seems to have a very vital and practical purpose in the health and stability of the polis. And of course for Aristotle, it is the use of reason that provides us the surest way to the good life; for if we can live moderately, and discover the virtues in life we must pursue to achieve the good life. Reason here enables us to free ourselves from vice and conform our desires to a rational plan or set of…

    • 1125 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A Detailed Account of Aristotle’s Position on Happiness and why it is a Human Good According to Aristotle, happiness is an experience that is desired by all human beings. However, there are distinct views regarding what kind of life is considered happy. Aristotle provides readers with different types of lives that are believed to make people happy, including accumulation of wealth and a life of fulfillment that is characterized by comfort and pleasure. He also posits that a happy life is that which is pleasant.…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While Aristotle’s belief was, you can only gain true knowledge through the senses, this making him an empiricist. Although the ideas are different, they both seek universal…

    • 843 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Argumentative Strategies of Plato vs. Aristophanes In Aristophanes’ “Clouds” and Plato’s “Apology” Socrates is satirically attacked and rationally defended respectively. The two argumentative styles of Aristophanes and Plato are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Aristophanes utilizes satire and humorous exaggerations of sophist teachings to denounce Socrates. Alternatively, Plato’s “Apology” uses logic and reason in order to defend himself against the charges brought against him.…

    • 2212 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    A seasoned account to do with the Greek philosopher Aristotle. To…

    • 3268 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Every art and every inquiry, and likewise every action and choice, seems to aim at some good, and hence it has been beautifully said that the good is that at which all things aim.” As Aristotle makes inquires and deliberates over what is the highest end for the human life, he debates over what constitutes the highest good. Throughout the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that we aim at some end through our pursuits of action, and that those ends are in some way connected at achieving the highest good. Aristotle suggests the possibility of happiness, translated from the Greek word eudaimonia, which refers to a “state of having a good indwelling spirit or being in a contented state of being healthy, happy and prosperous.” For the one who…

    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The philosophers Aristotle and Augustine both wrote extensively on what they believed happiness was and how to achieve the good life. However, both prolific thinkers had differing opinions on achieve this goal. For example, Aristotle believed that the path to the good life was obtained through reason; whereas Augustine believed that it was obtained through Scripture and Divine Revelation because God’s grace helps one to achieve the good life, but reason alone is not enough to get that. In Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle shares his belief that the way to a good life, which he refers to as happiness, is achieved through reason.…

    • 1228 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aristotle proposes in his well renowned work, Nicomachean Ethics, a way of life that is structured on the foundation of what is happiness for human beings. Nicomachean Ethics provides the means in which are best determined to achieve the ultimate goal of an individual’s life which according to Aristotle is happiness. The definition of happiness is determined differently based on an individual’s perspective of the concept which the philosopher states in the beginning of Chapter Four in Book One of Nicomachean Ethics. Although differing in opinions and perspective of what happiness can best be defined as, there is a formal agreement of understanding amongst the people which Aristotle labels “the many and the refined” (Aristotle, Bartlett, & Collins,…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The 4th and 5th century was filled with many powerful people such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. With them, we see the development of democracy and it also being practiced for the first time within a government. Aristotle was one of Plato’s students and his view on all subjects was teleological. He examined the purpose of things understanding the “real world” instead of the individual and complex human being. Through his experiences and observations, Aristotle gained much of his perception on this.…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Every person in the world seeks attributes in his or her life that end in pleasure, goodness and happiness. It is then we come to find why humans seek these characteristics in their day to day lives. According to Aristotle, he distinguishes between these three attributes pleasure, goodness, and happiness and answers the overall question on why humans seek these characteristics in their lives. Within Aristotle’s text, he goes into depths on happiness, the virtues and the mean of reason, and lastly how to achieve the good life. From a young age we began to understand the simple terms of our feelings, distinguishing them between the words happy, sad, or angry.…

    • 2041 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What is the Good Life? Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are known as great men of thought and, though they didn’t start philosophy, they are pioneers of that field and some of their thoughts are still used today. While some of the philosopher’s opinions and viewpoints are very different form each other they all end up focusing on one question, “What is the good life?” Even though they don’t see eye to eye on quite a few things they still agree that the good life is the ultimate goal that all men strive for.…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this paper I will argue that pleasure and pain are imperative in the moral life. My main reason is that in order to live a moral life you must be morally virtuous, which involves pleasure and pain which are always paired with actions and feelings. The crucial importance of pleasure and pain and its role in the moral life are statements that are more likely to be true then false. Research Aristotle was a very influential philosopher who focused on the happiness principle and all that happiness entailed: “The Nicomachean Ethics”.…

    • 1866 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics