Question:
Plato, Aristotle's view of universe compaired to Socrates' philosophy...?
wonderer
2009-01-26 10:59:26 UTC
Plato, Aristotle's view of universe compaired to Socrates' philosophy. and the pros and cons of each view. does either have any merit in comtemporary life?
I'm mainly confused about how Plato and Aristotle's view compaires to Socrates and the pros/cons
Three answers:
elenchuskb
2009-01-26 21:57:35 UTC
The views of Aristotle and Plato on the "cosmos" (their term) or "universe" (our term) are, of course, outmoded. We do not live on a fixed earth with the cosmos slowling revolving around the earth at the center of that cosmos --- which, by the way, was the theory of Eudoxus a fellow mathematician of Plato and an associate of both Aristotle and Plato at the early Academy.



Eudoxus's revolving spheres theory, at the time, was just as good a theory as any modern theory is also considered good, and for the same reasons we consider modern scientific theories to be good, these days, to wit:- (1) Explanatory power of observations and (2) Predictablility of observations based upon a good theory.



Both solar and lunar eclipses were calculable and predictable on Eudoxus's theory. Eudoxus's theory of the cosmos/universe explained the observed phenomena.



But further naked eye observations, opposed theories (Copernicus and others), better mathematical techniques and later telescopic observations by Galileo and friends provided better explanations and more precise predictions. So Eudoxus's, Plato's and Aristotle's ideas about the "cosmos" changed. But even Arisotle himself pointed out to his own students how to compare and contrast opposed theories, while pointing out 2 weaknesses in Eudoxus's theory. The moon didn't behave, exactly, according to the theory. And the theory didn't explain equinoxes or solstices--- ie. why the sun seems to move south, in the winter, and back toward the north in the summer.



A slightly tilted earth, revolving around the sun, explained that observation, eventually.



As to comparing Plato and Aristotle with "Socrates's philosophy":- We only know about Socrates's philosophical activity via Plato's pen. And Plato, himself, asserts that all he wrote on philsophical subjects was about "Socrates beautified and rejuvenated.", or "cleansed and beautified" on other translations of his 7th Letter (admittedly some scholars doubt the authenticity of that letter; with entirely discernable ulterior motives mentioned below).



Plato categorically asserts in his 7th letter that philosophy cannot be taught by written treatises and must be done "face to face" the way Socrates did philosophy in ancient Athens. It appears that Plato meant what he said in that letter because he founded The Academy, at Athens, for just that purpose --- so that philosophers could investigate things, and question each other, "face to face". Of course, people who think that philosophy is all about wrting philosophical treatises are going to be at odds with the content of that letter. Thus a discernable motive for attempting to discredit its authenticity.



But whether or not Plato wrote that 7th letter, he certainly did do exactly what the letter suggests in founding the Academy. He established a "school" where philosophy could be done "face to face" and to train future possible "philosopher Kings", which he also mentions in that letter.



Aristotle credits Socrates with 2 contributions to philosophy, in his Metaphysics treatise, which were (1) Inductive Arguments and (2) Universal definition, with (2) Universal Definition, being the start of dialectical inquiries. He also argues that Socrates was merely "seeking to syllogize", while arguing dialectically.



The difference between Socrates vs. Plato and Aristotle, was that Socrates could only make his inquiries of individual Athenians or of individuals from other Greek city states who were visiting Athens, such as Parmenides and Zeno, visiting Athens from Elea when he was young, per the Dialogue Plato entitled Parmenides. Socrates was certainly and personally familiar with other famous presocratics, such as Protagoras who was Pericles's personal philosophical adviser --- being familiar with members of Pericles's household, especially Alcibiades who was adopted by Pericles.



Those presocratics whom Socrates did not know, he certainly knew of by either their own writings or the arguments of their students and disciples, who often visited Athens. Pericles, himself, for that reason (the many visitors) among others, nicknamed Athens "the school of Hellas", given the architecture and arts which abounded during the "golden age" of ancient Greece.



But Socrates could only go "one on one", usually resulting in the classic Platonic "aporias" (no answers to a question) or paradoxes.



But with Plato and the founding of The Academy and Aristotle's fouding of the Lyceum, came libraries and collections of the actual writings of various presocratic philosophers.



Thus Plato and Aristotle began to be able to hear far more numerous and better "thought out" answers to the same sorts of questions which Socrates had asked of individual persons and their friends.



Thus in many treatises of Aristotle you may read him say that we must investigate the views of "our predecessors, to profit from their wisdom if any and to avoid their errors if any." Great advice. The
2016-02-26 06:34:37 UTC
They were part of one of the greatest infields to ever grace a major league ball park. Sweet hitting Sammy Socrates played shortstop, Arnie Aristotle played second base while Louie Plato was a human vacuum cleaner at third base. They thrilled Chicago Cubs fans for years with their acrobatic display and clutch hitting. Philosophically, they were on the same page when it came to playing the game. Even if baseball was Greek to them, the average person could understand the way they played the game.
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2016-02-04 14:05:56 UTC
plato aristotleview universe compaired socrates philosophy


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