ARISTOTLE’S REALISM

(384-322 B.C)

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Born in 384 B.C at Stagira. Son of a Physician at court of Macedon. Went to Plato’s Academy. Remained there until Plato’s death in 347

B.C. Called by Phillip II to educate his son

Alexander the Great. Later opened his own school named

“Lyceum” (Peripatetic or walking school). Students, there conducted researches in

subjects of botany, biology, logic, music, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, arts, metaphysics, psychology,…………………………

They were asked to dissect reptiles, science of observation and manual work was quite new in Greek world.

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ARISTOTLE’S REALISM he never got out from the influence of his teacher,

Plato. he had his own views, but the basis of his Realism are

found within Plato’s idealism. he developed the view that ideas may be important but

a proper study of “MATTER” could lead us to better and more distinct ideas.

the central theme of realism is that “ reality, knowledge and values exist independently of human mind”.

Aristotle rejects the idealist’s view that ideas are real. he thinks that matter exists even though there is no

mind to perceive it, matter is certainly an independent reality.

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Seven Principles of Aristotle’s Realism

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PRINCIPLE # 1:

Ideas (or forms) can exist without matter, but no matter can exist without form or idea. Each piece of matter has universal and particular properties e.g. all human beings are different in appearance, sizes, no two are alike still they share universal form of ‘humanness’. Universal form is the idea or essence that is a non-material aspect of a single material object which relates it to all other objects of the group. Aristotle defined various concepts on the basis of universal form. This universal form can be realized by examining existing material objects. Like Plato, Aristotle says we should understand reality of all things. Plato achieves it through reasoning, while Aristotle achieves it by studying material things through five senses.

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PRINCIPLE # 2:

Universal form or properties of things never change. But particular components

change as they grow or die. He believes that form is constant but matter is always changing. He describes form as the

soul and tells that soul has a purpose.

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PRINCIPLE # 3:

As design and purpose is present in the universe and thus, all things happen in orderly manner. We can understand universe by understanding the purposes. e,g Human has free will to think. If we refuse to think or think poorly it shows that we go against our design and creation, and suffer the consequences of unhappiness.

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PRINCIPLE # 4:

Vegetative soul or plant life Represents the lowest level. It has only nutritive faculty or the power of receiving nourishment. This soul is

doing too little or inactive.

Rational soul or human life

It has faculty of reason and thinking.

Continued……..

Animative soul or Animal life

It represents the other extreme i.e. too much anger and hostility. It has faculties

of nutrition, perception, desires and power of

locomotion.

Aristotle illustrates the idea of soul as an entity to be kept in balance. He believed in three different aspects or levels of life or soul.

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When one uses reason to keep other two aspects in harmony, he will be following the true path of design and purpose. This ideal state is called ‘Golden Mean’ and is achieved through education. Balance and order are the central to body, mind and whole universe. Aristotle did not view body and mind in opposition, Plato did. He viewed body as means which receives data through sense perceptions. This data is organized by reasoning in mind, which leads to achieve universal principles.

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PRINCIPLE # 5:Matter and idea are two aspects of the same thing. Matter has

form and formless matter does not exist. Union of form and matter gives concrete reality to things. This union is further illustrated by Aristotle’s conception of four causes, which helps in understanding the nature of things:-

Continued……..

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Material cause(that which

composes a thing) describes the

material out of which something is

composed of.

Final cause(the end and good of

a thing) is that for the sake of which a thing exists or is done, including both purposeful and

instrumental actions and activities.Continued……..

Efficient cause(the source from which

movement or rest comes)

is that from which the change or the ending of the change first starts. It

identifies what is changed and so

suggests all sorts of agents, nonliving or living, acting as the

sources of change or movement or rest.

NATURE OF THINGS

Formal cause(the form or the model of things) tells us what a

thing is? Anything is determined by

its definition, form, pattern, essence,

whole, synthesis or archetype

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The efficient cause, the formal cause and the final cause coincides in the concept of “form”. Hence form is propelling, organizing and final principle of becoming. God is defined as the first efficient cause underlying all existence (Prime mover who is himself unmoved) but is He Himself unmoved by another cause which might be presumed as being prior to him?

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PRINCIPLE # 6:

Aristotle believes that matter is always in process and moving to some end. This is similar as the modern view of evolution and idea of open-ended universe. The difference here is that universe according to him is open-ended to a certain point. There is an ultimate reality to be the power and creator that controlled the process of matter.To know about the ultimate reality he developed logical method called “Syllogism”. It is the method of testing the truth of statements based on deductive reasoning.

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PRINCIPLE # 7:

Aristotle believes in happiness as the chief good, which depends on virtues and well-ordered soul. To achieve it one needs to develop habits of virtue through education.

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THANK YOU