Contrasting Views on the Nature of Reality

Contrasting Views On The Nature of Reality

The nature of reality is closely associated with metaphysics in the sense that metaphysics is the nature of things; studying all things that could exist, have existed or exist, living and non-living. Defining metaphysics would include the study or theory of reality and reality beyond the physical world, which cannot be grasped by senses. In other words it simply asks what is the nature of being? Metaphysics allows us to extend beyond nature as we see it and discover the true nature of things and their reason to exist. Aristotle’s and Plato’s contrasting views and conceptual differences upon the nature of reality developed dissimilar doctrines on metaphysics. Both of these philosophical intellectuals held strong views on the levels of reality. Plato had lived between 427-347 BC. In his time he founded one of the most influential schools of the ancient world, The Academy. Aristotle, 384-322 BC, was known to have studied at Plato’s Academy. Eventually becoming an independent scholar, and rival towards Plato. Plato acquired his ideas from within and applied them to the outside world. On the contrary, Aristotle established his ideas from the views around him and applied them within. These different approaches to the nature of reality or metaphysics led to the issue of Plato’s attributing reality as idealism versus Aristotle’s attributing reality as realism.

Plato’s philosophy has been highly influential directing the minds of many philosophers. Plato originated the theory of forms, believing that reality is the forms of things that are real and not physical matter. Plato tended to believe that there are two levels of reality, physical and mental. Exhibiting the concept that there are things that appear real, and things that are real. Reality is one thing and appearance is the many. The physical world, or the ‘becoming’ world is always in movement and always changing. The mental world, or the ‘being’ world, is absolute, independent and transcendent. It is a world established by abstract entities called forms, or ideas. Plato states that these forms are the “law of nature”, and the principle of order. Plato makes a bold assertion that what we encounter in the world with our senses are shadows of what is ultimately real. Truths about things in the world can only be temporary, as everything in the world is subject to change. This concept created a flaw in Plato’s view on what is reality because what is true now, may not be true fifty years from now. For example, according to Plato, a child is a child. However, twenty years from now a child becomes an adult, yet in the eyes of Plato that dismays his beliefs on the nature of reality. The eternal truths, a child is a child, a tree is a tree, are the abstract general ideas which exist in a realm of reality from the world of change