Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of existence also known as theories of forms. Plato as well as Aristotle have made wondrous advancements in the Art and logic in philosophy but they compete with recognition for the king of philosophy. There is really no way to know the truth or who is right but these two philosophers are still changing the world. Both philosophers demonstrate their works in all of philosophy but specifically for this example in metaphysics.
Plato’s theory of forms starts with perfection. In Plato’s view of forms, forms are perfect, eternal, and unchanging. There is an individual form for each property and characteristic that an object could possess in its nature. Lastly the forms are real …show more content…
Plato describes this in the Allegory of the Cave, a story where prisoners are forced to sit and watch shadows on a cave wall for the entirety of their lives. The shadows are a representation of how everyday people see objects in everyday life around the world. If one of these prisoners, who has only watched shadows, were permitted to leave the cave or escape they would then see the true forms of objects in other forms such as dimension, color, and depth. To Plato these forms are reality because of their perfection. Another explanation is that the physical and intelligible worlds forever exist simultaneously and the physical world is only a shadow of the intelligible, the immaterial. Both the words physical and intelligible are umbrella terms for the sake of philosophy. Physical covers everything from …show more content…
Aristotle places heavy emphasis on observation of nature and science. He taught that knowledge requires causality. He postulated four causes; material which is substance, formal which is design, efficiency which is maker or builder, and final which is the purpose or function. One assertion Aristotle make that direct conflict with the works of Plato is the law of contradictions. He states that something cannot be both be one thing and at the same time not be. He argues that both are definite substances but matter is potential and form is actual. These ideas are not separate but intertwined forever. Though Aristotle’s beliefs in forms are similar to Plato’s, Aristotle does not believe that these forms are floating in space but the forms exist in the object itself and he says this by stating that the soul and body are two, so also we not two parts of the soul and that the soul represents both form and body. Everything did not have a separate existence except the Prime Mover or God because it had existed before
Plato’s theory of forms starts with perfection. In Plato’s view of forms, forms are perfect, eternal, and unchanging. There is an individual form for each property and characteristic that an object could possess in its nature. Lastly the forms are real …show more content…
Plato describes this in the Allegory of the Cave, a story where prisoners are forced to sit and watch shadows on a cave wall for the entirety of their lives. The shadows are a representation of how everyday people see objects in everyday life around the world. If one of these prisoners, who has only watched shadows, were permitted to leave the cave or escape they would then see the true forms of objects in other forms such as dimension, color, and depth. To Plato these forms are reality because of their perfection. Another explanation is that the physical and intelligible worlds forever exist simultaneously and the physical world is only a shadow of the intelligible, the immaterial. Both the words physical and intelligible are umbrella terms for the sake of philosophy. Physical covers everything from …show more content…
Aristotle places heavy emphasis on observation of nature and science. He taught that knowledge requires causality. He postulated four causes; material which is substance, formal which is design, efficiency which is maker or builder, and final which is the purpose or function. One assertion Aristotle make that direct conflict with the works of Plato is the law of contradictions. He states that something cannot be both be one thing and at the same time not be. He argues that both are definite substances but matter is potential and form is actual. These ideas are not separate but intertwined forever. Though Aristotle’s beliefs in forms are similar to Plato’s, Aristotle does not believe that these forms are floating in space but the forms exist in the object itself and he says this by stating that the soul and body are two, so also we not two parts of the soul and that the soul represents both form and body. Everything did not have a separate existence except the Prime Mover or God because it had existed before