Aristotle

Aristotle thought that Plato’s Theory of Forms:

• Was not very accurate in demonstrating the reality of things
• Was the most appropriate way of understanding the world around us
• Had been well developed as a hypothetical realm of Forms and represented reality

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

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What was the difference in the background of Plato and Aristotle?

• Plato was a biologist and Aristotle a mathematician
• Plato was a naturalist and Aristotle an idealist
• Plato was based on abstract concepts and Aristotle on observation

How did Aristotle believe we could deduce what makes things what they are?

• By seeing the characteristics of particular things in order to create a general idea of what makes it different from other things
• By observing their forms in their ideal representation and thus understanding their nature
• By having innate knowledge of what those particular things are

Aristotle believed that the only way to truly experience the world around us was through:

• Our senses
• Our reason
• Our knowledge

Aristotle believed that what happens in the natural world is not the same as comprehending concepts such as virtue, justice, beauty and good. 

• True
• False

Aristotle believed that when we are born, we already know what right and wrong are. 

• True
• False

Aristotle believed that throughout life we learn to recognize the qualities of concepts like justice and slowly build and understanding of what they are as they are manifested around us. 

• True
• False

For the division in the two separate fields at arriving at universal truths, who were the rationalists and who the empiricists?

• Rationalists believed that we already have knowledge once we are born and the empiricists who believed knowledge came from experience
• Rationalists believed that knowledge comes from experience and the empiricists that thought we already have knowledge once we are born
• Rationalists believed that experience is acquired throughout time giving us understanding and the empiricists that thought we have innate knowledge

For Aristotle a “good life” is:

• Where we have peace of mind by doing the right thing
• Where we accomplish our purpose and use everything we have to the maximum
• Where we understand reality as it is, here in this world

How can a person achieve happiness according to Aristotle?

• By using all his abilities in the pursuit of wisdom, the highest form of virtue
• By observing what others do
• By using reason to question life