Plato Aristotle Essays and Term Papers
Last update: September 6, 2014-
Aristotle and Virtue
Aristotle believes that we need virtue, both of thought and of character, to achieve that completeness leading to happiness. This is the function: activity in the soul in accord with virtue, where soul is defined as what is in us that carries out our characteristic activity. Aristotle is right in believing we need virtue. The end of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics Book I introduces the idea that since happiness is “a certain sort of activity of
Rating:Essay Length: 513 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: November 14, 2009 -
Plato on Justice and Injustice
Plato on Justice and Injustice In The Republic, Plato attempts to demonstrate through the character and discourse of Socrates that justice is better than justice is the good which men must strive for, regardless of whether they could be unjust and still be rewarded. His method is to use dialectic, the asking and answering of questions which led the hearer from one point to another, supposedly with irrefutable logic by obtaining agreement to each point
Rating:Essay Length: 1,122 Words / 5 PagesSubmitted: November 14, 2009 -
Aristotle
As Aristotle viewed the world around him, he observed that things are moving and changing in certain ways. Aristotle discovered that certain things cause other things, which in turn cause something else. Aristotle believed that an infinite chain of causation was not possible, thus, a prime mover of some kind must exist as the first cause of everything that changes or moves. The first evidence that Aristotle viewed was the world around him. He
Rating:Essay Length: 2,154 Words / 9 PagesSubmitted: November 15, 2009 -
Achieving Excellence in Terms of Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics
Before actually focusing on the main details of Aristotle's Argument, we must pay careful attention to the opening remarks he makes in Book I about the nature of his inquiry. The first important point that he stresses is that the study of the character of human beings is dependent on what a human being is. Aristotle states that that a human is not a man that lives in isolation, but a man that also lives
Rating:Essay Length: 815 Words / 4 PagesSubmitted: November 16, 2009 -
The Apology - Plato
In the Apology, Plato provides the reader with a faithful picture of the greatness of Socrates. This dialogue is one of the many recorded about the life and work of Socrates. The Apology is about how Socrates was arrested and charged with corrupting the youth, believing in no gods not approved by the state, and for being a Sophist. During the trial Socrates explained "This is irreverent conduct for either of us." This essay will
Rating:Essay Length: 668 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: November 16, 2009 -
Aristotle’s Theory of Human Nature
Aristotle (together with Socrates and Plato) is one of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy. He was the first to create a comprehensive system of philosophy, encompassing morality and aesthetics, logic and science, politics and metaphysics. Aristotle believed that human beings are “featherless bipeds”. This has to do with his theory of politics because Aristotle’s view on politics is essentially fascist. I personally don’t agree with Aristotle on the fact that he thinks
Rating:Essay Length: 374 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: November 16, 2009 -
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Compared to the Human Condition
The Allegory Because of how we live, true reality is not obvious to most of us. However, we mistake what we see and hear for reality and truth. This is the basic premise for Plato抯 Allegory of the Cave, in which prisoners sit in a cave, chained down, watching images cast on the wall in front of them. They accept these views as reality and they are unable to grasp their overall situation: the cave
Rating:Essay Length: 1,006 Words / 5 PagesSubmitted: November 17, 2009 -
Plato’s Republic
The Republic itself is nothing at the start of Plato's most famous and influential book. It does not exist. Not only does it not exist in actuality, but it does not exist in theory either. It must be built. It architect will be Socrates, the fictional persona Plato creates for himself. In the first episode Socrates encounters some acquaintances during the festival of Bendis. His reputation for good conversation already well-established, Socrates is approached by
Rating:Essay Length: 2,577 Words / 11 PagesSubmitted: November 17, 2009 -
In Plato's the Republic
In Plato’s The Republic: Book III; Socrates prescribed the medical training that should be provided in the just city. He felt that doctors should be trained to treat the healthy, who suffered from a single curable problem. In contrast, Socrates also felt that the doctors should not be trained to treat the chronically ill and since they are suffering from an incurable disease they should be left to die naturally. Furthermore, Socrates felt that the
Rating:Essay Length: 409 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: November 17, 2009 -
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle In Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle makes the case for the fulfillment of Eudimonea, the greatest happiness and good that a person can achieve. He states that there are 3 ways in which creatures, human specifically go about trying to fulfill Eudimonea. The first is through pleasure, be it sensual, tactile or mental. Through this basic ingredient me experience such things as food, games, and science fiction novels. The 2nd part of Aristotle’s Eudimonea is honor
Rating:Essay Length: 428 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: November 18, 2009 -
Plato
Few definite details are known of Plato's life. He was born in Athens c. 427 BC and was the youngest son of Ariston, of an old and wealthy family. It is claimed that his real name was Aristocles, with "Plato" (meaning "the broad") being a nickname given to him because of his wrestler's physique. He served in the last years of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, and after democracy was restored in
Rating:Essay Length: 634 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: November 18, 2009 -
Plato V. Machiavelli
Is a just person the best choice for a ruler; many philosophers have laid out different ways in which they believe a society should be ran whether it be a single ruler such as a prince or multiple rulers like philosophy kings. Machiavelli intended for a society/principality to be ruled a strong ruler whether he be just or unjust, moral or immoral; whereas Plato believed for a society to work a just ruler such as
Rating:Essay Length: 1,543 Words / 7 PagesSubmitted: November 18, 2009 -
Aristotle - the Great
Aristotle the Great Aristotle was born in 384BC and lived to 322 BC. He was a Greek philosopher, logician, and scientist. Along with his teacher Plato, Aristotle is generally regarded as one of the most influential ancient thinkers in a number of philosophical fields, including political theory (Hines). Aristotle was born in Stagira in northern Greece, and his father was a court physician to the king of Macedon. As a young man he studied in
Rating:Essay Length: 1,557 Words / 7 PagesSubmitted: November 18, 2009 -
How Does Plato Relate the Soul of Virtuous Individual to the Ideal Republic in His Republic
The virtues are based on justice, of which common honesty in buying and selling is the shadow, and justice is based on the idea of good, which is the harmony of the world, and is reflected both in the institutions of States and in motions of the heavenly bodies Each virtue that Plato explains in Republic is connected to the proper work of the State. Virtuous individual is the face of the State- if the
Rating:Essay Length: 588 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: November 20, 2009 -
Plato
Plato was born to an aristocratic family in Athens, Greece. When he was a child his father, Ariston, who was believed to be descended from the early kings of Athens died, and his mother, Perictione married Pyrilampes. As a young man Plato was always interested in political leadership and eventually became a disciple of Socrates. He followed his philosophy and his dialectical style, which is believed to be the search for truth through questions, answers,
Rating:Essay Length: 1,745 Words / 7 PagesSubmitted: November 21, 2009 -
The Poetics by Aristotle & Hamlet by Shakespeare
Poetics and Hamlet Centuries ago, Aristotle laid down guidelines for criticizing dramatic works in his Poetics. This paper considers whether that structure is adequate for analyzing William Shakespeare’s Hamlet that was composed after Aristotle. The Poetics is too short to go into great detail, so we’ll have to use only the most basic of his definitions and guidelines for what dramatic works should entail. He begins by discussing poetry, then moves to tragedy, which he
Rating:Essay Length: 396 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: November 22, 2009 -
Educating Ethical Behavior - Aristotle's Views on Akrasia
EDUCATING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR: ARISTOTLE'S VIEWS ON AKRASIA Deborah Kerdeman University of Washington "Can the teaching of ethics really help cleanse the business world of shady dealings?" Asked by Newsweek magazine during the height of the recent Wall-Street scandals,1 this query resonates with perennial concerns about whether or not virtue can be taught and how such instruction might best be effected. The problem, Newsweek declares, is not that students lack ethical standards or are incapable of
Rating:Essay Length: 2,901 Words / 12 PagesSubmitted: November 25, 2009 -
Reactionary Essay to If Aristotle Ran General Motors, by Tom Morris
Introduction In the book, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, Tom Morris argues that the teachings of the ancients can and should be applied to today's corporation. His message is that the four virtues - truth, beauty, goodness, and unity - form the foundation of human excellence. Putting them into practice leads not only to self-fulfillment, but ultimately to an open, nurturing, and ethical workplace that is more productive and successful in the long-term. The purpose
Rating:Essay Length: 1,306 Words / 6 PagesSubmitted: November 25, 2009 -
Plato’s Republic - Book V
Plato's most famous work is undoubtedly The Republic it has weathered the test of time to provide us with the most influential philosophical doctrine surviving from the ancient Mediterranean. Over the years Plato has been hailed by some as an advocate of women's rights because of some views he puts forth in The Republic. In Book V of the work Plato has Socrates, acting as his voice, engage in a discussion of the perfect state
Rating:Essay Length: 606 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: November 26, 2009 -
Plato’s Parable of the Cave
In Plato's "Parable of the Cave", it is questioned whether living in darkness and then being forced into light makes it understandable for these humans to want to go back into their safe environment where they know "truth." The idea of having to adjust from darkness to the sun would force them to be reintroduced to their concept of truth. The reasons the prisoner could not be taken directly from darkness to light would include
Rating:Essay Length: 492 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: November 27, 2009 -
Plato and Innate Knowledge
Universal knowledge possessed by human beings is not acquired, but is “innate”. The senses effectuate a recollection of wisdom gained during the soul’s existence prior to birth. I believe these statements to be true and as a proponent, shall argue in favor on the basis of Plato’s works regarding the same. Plato asserts that universal knowledge is not acquired, but rather, is inherently present in humans from birth. This “knowledge of the forms” was gained
Rating:Essay Length: 519 Words / 3 PagesSubmitted: November 30, 2009 -
Plato
Plato was a Greek philosopher during the 4th century BCE. He was born in 427BCE, during the "Golden Age of Athens." His birth was three years after the Peloponnesian War began and one year after Pericles died from the plague. Plato was the son of Ariston, a descendant from the last king of Athens and Perictone, a descendant of Solon. Solon was an aristocratic reformer who wrote the constitution that established Athenian democracy. Plato's family
Rating:Essay Length: 287 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: November 30, 2009 -
Plato Vs Locke
In analyzing the works of Plato and John Locke I feel that Plato presents a more accurate idealism in how a society should be maintained. Plato puts ultimate power in those with the highest knowledge. I feel that this concept is necessary in order to have a successful regime, thus I support in my argument. Plato's theory hand picks guardians to become Philosopher Kings. These kings are those with "Gold" Souls, and in fact do
Rating:Essay Length: 269 Words / 2 PagesSubmitted: December 1, 2009 -
Plato
The focus of Socrates at this time in Plato's Republic is of the ideal city and how it can be traced to the human soul. Socrates believes that the city he has proposed to the other men is perfect in itself. He says that this city possesses four virtues which are the base for the city being perfect. These are the virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation and lastly but most importantly is the virtue of
Rating:Essay Length: 1,336 Words / 6 PagesSubmitted: December 1, 2009 -
The Crito Written by Plato
Crito In "The Crito" written by Plato, the philosopher, Socrates, has been accused by the state of Athens and sentenced to death for his teachings that they thought were questionable. Socrates does not argue about his sentence but agrees with it, he chooses to die because he wants to do what he believes is right by not by not betraying the state and breaking his implied contract. Socrates said that one must listen to the
Rating:Essay Length: 836 Words / 4 PagesSubmitted: December 2, 2009