Philosophical Views: Plato Vs. Aristotle's Views on Forms

The views of Plato and Aristotle vary but to some degree they are almost the same. Plato was mostly identified with the Theory of Forms and Aristotle was primarily known for his contemplations in metaphysics. Even though they both had a different school of thought they did agree in a few things, for instance, Plato and Aristotle not only influenced social life in the past but the future, in fact some still use it in today’s society.

Plato was a scholar of Socrate’s. He started the first University, which was known as Academy in the year 387 B.C. Plato is best recognized for his Theory of Forms. He suggested that what is indeed real is not the objects we come across in our physical experience but comparatively forms, which can only be acquired logically. Plato’s theory of forms included fable of the cave, divided line, platonic forms, platonic realism, division of the soul, philosopher king and memories of the soul. Plato specified that only forms are truly real but is something that cannot be explained as an object; however it can be expressed as a physical experience.

Plato was Aristotle’s teacher and later Aristotle became Alexander the Great’s teacher. Aristotle established his own school in Athens. He believed metaphysics to be the original philosophy which created a part of his interests. Aristotle asserted that forms were universal. According to Aristotle, belief of essential properties renders an item what it is, and accidental properties are the disparities of that item. Aristotle used an example of a paper, where he stated that there are many types of papers, for example they can be large, small, white, pink, black, and so forth, but they are still taken into account as a paper. This phenomenon was what makes it an accidental property according to Aristotle. He believed that each thing existed in matter and form. By matter he meant the material that made up that item. Aristostle used a chair as an example. He stated that wood was