Metaphysics : Plato Vs. Aristotle

What is real? Am I really alive? Is this really reality? These are just some of the questions metaphysics attempts to answer, as metaphysics is defined as "the branch of philosophy investigating what is really real" (Mitchell 24). Plato and Aristotle both had brilliant minds each in their own rights. They attempted to answer the questions of metaphysics, although, they both had different concepts of reality, this despite the fact that Aristotle studied under the tutelage of Plato. Plato believed we "live in ignorance" (Mitchell 32). Plato believed the world was divided into " the intelligible world of forms, and the perceptual world we see around us" ("Plato....Thinkers"). Aristotle believed in these forms, but felt there was "only one world, and the forms existed within it" (Cohen).

Plato's theory is sometimes referred to as "idealism" ("Plato....Thinkers"). Idealism is the belief that our world represents another world of perfect forms, or ideas (Mitchell 65). He believed the forms our world represented were "perfect and unchanging" ("Plato....Thinkers"). Every object we look at, from triangles to statues, in our world is just a replica of the real, perfect thing. He believed our senses deceived us, and could not be trusted (Fernie). Our senses lead us to believe that our world is real and perfect, when in fact it is not. Ultimately, he believed our reality should be regarded as spiritual, not physical (Fernie).

Aristotle's theory of metaphysics believes in these same forms as Plato, however, he believes they exist in only one realm, our realm (Cohen). He believes that form is simply a material at work (Cohen). Forms are within the objects we see; they give shape to reality. He believed form is the primary and casual source of all being in this world (Cohen). He felt forms had no separate existence, but were in fact the concrete behind all objects in our reality.

Plato felt our world was temporary. He felt forms were spiritual, and were therefore eternal (Fernie). Physical experiences, including life itself, were only temporary objects within our realm, and therefore could not be seen as real (Fernie). Physical experiences were in fact, just spiritual guides in which we were set to carry out. Plato believed in reincarnation as well (Fernie). He believed that mankind would go through a continuous cycle of life, until they achieved life along the right path (Fernie). In each life, we may move forward onto the next stage of life, or we may fall backwards, based on decisions we make, until we reach the ultimate ending.

Aristotle believed in causation. He believed there were "four causes to everything" (Sachs). These causes were used as a way to define each event and each item that are presented to us in this world. The causes are broken down into four areas; material, formal, efficient, and final causes (Sachs). The material cause is simply the material that defines the object. (Sachs). The formal cause is the idea of what an object actually should