Aristotle and Plato

[BuyOurEverything]

Can someone here please explain to me what exactly Aristotle and Plato thought was the purpose of life and what was the difference between their positions? That would be greatly appreciated.

[Essential Insignificance]

Plato once inquired himself ''what was the life worth living'…and he replied ''a happy one''.

That may help.

[Rasta Sapian]

" A mans life should be spent at play " Plato

What did one prophet say to the other?
God only knows?

[Hegemonicretribution]

Try applying the four causes to life as an object see what you get?

[Wenty]

Aristotle thought the good life can be spent in one of three ways. The life of pleasure, the politically active life and the contemplative life. Aristotle thought the highest good and what we should all attain for was 'eudaimonia'. This isn't translated as happiness but something like living and fairing well.

Plato thought there were three parts of the human soul: reason, spiritedness and desire. Reason is the natural ruler of these although desire takes over sometimes. When each part is playing its role we enjoy some sort of 'mental harmony'. Someone thats just enjoys this type of harmony but someone who is unjust their desire (greed for money, luxury, sex, power etc.) dominates and gets out of hand. To be just, one has to control these desires, and the reward is the harmony.

Type in some of those keys words in the net and i'm sure you'll find plenty.

[Rasta Sapian]

"The first and best victory is to conquer self: to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile." Plato

[Rasta Sapian]

"A bad man is wretched amidst every earthly advantage; a good man -troubled on every side; yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." Plato

[Wenty]

My explanation has gone unappreciated!

[percept¡on]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2004, 01:23 PM
Aristotle thought the good life can be spent in one of three ways. The life of pleasure, the politically active life and the contemplative life. Aristotle thought the highest good and what we should all attain for was 'eudaimonia'. This isn't translated as happiness but something like living and fairing well.

What do you think of the similarities between Aristotle and modern existentialism? I was reading Nichomachean Ethics and I think a lot of Aristotle's ideas are consistent with existentialist ideas. Maybe this is not a 'new' observation but I'm not up on the academic side philosophy.

[demonio comunista]

the explanation by wenty is probably the best, however Rasta Sapian gives good quotes by plato.... very nice :) i like the first one about conquering self.