Greek ScienceGreek SciencePLATO & ARISTOTLEPLATO & ARISTOTLE

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

►Know and understand the basics of Know and understand the basics of Plato's philosophy.Plato's philosophy.

►Know and understand the basics of Know and understand the basics of Aristotle's philosophy.Aristotle's philosophy.

►Know the importance and influence of Know the importance and influence of Plato and Aristotle's philosophy in the Plato and Aristotle's philosophy in the field of science and human thinking in field of science and human thinking in general.general.

►Know the significance of Plato and Know the significance of Plato and Aristotle's philosophy in your daily life. Aristotle's philosophy in your daily life.

Plato & AristotlePlato & Aristotle

► School of AthensSchool of Athens, by , by RaphaelRaphael

PLATOPLATO► Pupil of SocratesPupil of Socrates► Influenced by Influenced by

Socrates' deathSocrates' death► Set up his own school Set up his own school

known as the known as the "Academy""Academy"

► one of the greatest one of the greatest and most influential and most influential thinker of all time.thinker of all time.

BACKGROUND OF HIS BACKGROUND OF HIS THOUGHTTHOUGHT

1. From Natural Philosophy to Philosophy of Man and 1. From Natural Philosophy to Philosophy of Man and SocietySociety

Natural PhilosophyNatural Philosophy - Thales, Anaximenes, - Thales, Anaximenes, Anaximander, Parmenides, Anaximander, Parmenides,

Heraclitus, DemocritusHeraclitus, Democritus - Main Question: "- Main Question: "What is the underlying stuff What is the underlying stuff

of nature?of nature?""

Philosophy of Man and Society Philosophy of Man and Society - Sophists and - Sophists and SocratesSocrates

- Main Questions: - Main Questions: "Who are we? "Who are we? What is virtue? What is Justice?"What is virtue? What is Justice?"

BACKGROUND OF HIS BACKGROUND OF HIS THOUGHTTHOUGHT

2. Both Trends are concerned with the existence 2. Both Trends are concerned with the existence of the "eternal and immutable." of the "eternal and immutable."

Natural Philosophy Natural Philosophy - "ONE in the many"- "ONE in the many"Philosophy of Man and SocietyPhilosophy of Man and Society - "NORMS of - "NORMS of

the society"the society"

3.3. Concern of Plato: Concern of Plato: He was also concerned with He was also concerned with the relationship between what is "eternal and the relationship between what is "eternal and immutable", on the one hand, and what "flows", immutable", on the one hand, and what "flows", on the other. on the other.

-Same as the Natural Philosophers and -Same as the Natural Philosophers and Humanists.Humanists.

-But he answered it differently.-But he answered it differently.

HOW PLATO CAME UP WITH HOW PLATO CAME UP WITH HIS IDEAHIS IDEA

► "Although everything in the natural world "flows", "Although everything in the natural world "flows", there must nevertheless be "something" that never there must nevertheless be "something" that never changes."changes."

► Now the question is,Now the question is, "where can we find that non-"where can we find that non-changing 'something'?"changing 'something'?"

HOW PLATO CAME UP WITH HOW PLATO CAME UP WITH HIS IDEAHIS IDEA

►World of Things (Nature)World of Things (Nature) PerceptiblePerceptible PerishablePerishable within time and spacewithin time and space it flowsit flows

HOW PLATO CAME UP WITH HOW PLATO CAME UP WITH HIS IDEAHIS IDEA

► "where can we find that non-changing "where can we find that non-changing 'something'?"'something'?"

►Obviously, "It must be beyond the realm Obviously, "It must be beyond the realm of things."of things."

►-It must be perceived only by reason-It must be perceived only by reason►-immaterial and non-perishable-immaterial and non-perishable►-outside time and space-outside time and space►-eternal and immutable-eternal and immutable►For Plato, it is found in the realm of IdeasFor Plato, it is found in the realm of Ideas

PLATO'S DOCTRINE OF IDEASPLATO'S DOCTRINE OF IDEAS

►For Plato all Material things are fashioned For Plato all Material things are fashioned after their timeless "ideas or forms."after their timeless "ideas or forms." Despite their differences, why are toy horses Despite their differences, why are toy horses

all the same?all the same? Why is a toy horse a toy horse?Why is a toy horse a toy horse? what is there in all toy horses that makes what is there in all toy horses that makes

them all toy horses?them all toy horses?

PLATO'S DOCTRINE OF IDEASPLATO'S DOCTRINE OF IDEAS

► If you are to make toy horses:If you are to make toy horses: you use models of horsesyou use models of horses you have in your mind the "forms" of you have in your mind the "forms" of

horses.horses.► this form or idea of a toy horse allows you to make this form or idea of a toy horse allows you to make

several toy horses.several toy horses.► despite their differences, all toy horses despite their differences, all toy horses are are toy toy

horses.horses.► Therefore, what makes a toy horse a toy horse Therefore, what makes a toy horse a toy horse

is the idea of a toy horseis the idea of a toy horse..

PLATO'S DOCTRINE OF IDEASPLATO'S DOCTRINE OF IDEAS

►Thus for Plato, "The realm of Ideas is the Thus for Plato, "The realm of Ideas is the foundation of the realm of things."foundation of the realm of things."

IDEAS IDEAS

THINGSTHINGS

ARTART

TRUE KNOWLEDGETRUE KNOWLEDGE► what is known in the realm of things are mere what is known in the realm of things are mere

"opinions""opinions" - we only use sense perception- we only use sense perception -ex. who is the most beautiful actress?-ex. who is the most beautiful actress?

► what is known in the realm of ideas are "true what is known in the realm of ideas are "true knowledge"knowledge" - we use reason- we use reason -ex. mathematics, geometry, philosophical -ex. mathematics, geometry, philosophical

ideasideas► "We can only have 'inexact conception' of "We can only have 'inexact conception' of

things we perceive with our senses. But we can things we perceive with our senses. But we can have 'true knowledge' of things we understand have 'true knowledge' of things we understand with our reason."with our reason."

The Cave AllegoryThe Cave Allegory

WORLD OF THINGS(SHADOWS)

The Cave AllegoryThe Cave Allegory► things are but shadows of ideas or eternal things are but shadows of ideas or eternal

formsforms►we need to go beyond the shadows and we need to go beyond the shadows and

dwell on the realm of ideas.dwell on the realm of ideas.► ideas let us understand the natural worldideas let us understand the natural world

WE ONLY RECOLLECT IDEASWE ONLY RECOLLECT IDEAS

► We already know ideas before, all we need is to just We already know ideas before, all we need is to just remember them.remember them.

► We remember the ideas in the copies (things).We remember the ideas in the copies (things).

IDEA OF A HORSE

ARISTOTLE ARISTOTLE (384—322) (384—322)

► He was a pupil at Plato's He was a pupil at Plato's AcademyAcademy

► Before going to Athens, Before going to Athens, we lived in Macedoniawe lived in Macedonia

► Son of the famous Son of the famous physician Nicomachusphysician Nicomachus

► Last great Greek Last great Greek Philosopher, but first Philosopher, but first great biologist of Europegreat biologist of Europe

ARISTOTLE ARISTOTLE (384—322) (384—322) ► Unlike Plato, he was Unlike Plato, he was

preoccupied with natural preoccupied with natural processes (world of things) processes (world of things) and not with the world of and not with the world of ideas.ideas.

► He was "the great He was "the great organizer."organizer."

► He tutored (342—c.339 ) He tutored (342—c.339 ) Alexander the Great Alexander the Great

► In 335 he opened a school In 335 he opened a school in the Lyceum; some in the Lyceum; some distinguished members of distinguished members of the Academy followed him. the Academy followed him.

NATURE IS THE REAL NATURE IS THE REAL WORLD...WORLD...

►The "idea" of something is simply a concept The "idea" of something is simply a concept that we humans formed that we humans formed afterafter seeing a seeing a certain number of that thing.certain number of that thing.

►““Ideas” are just the "common characteristics" Ideas” are just the "common characteristics" of things belonging into a certain group.of things belonging into a certain group.

►““Ideas” are just reflections of natural objects. Ideas” are just reflections of natural objects.

NATURE IS THE REAL NATURE IS THE REAL WORLD...WORLD...

►For Aristotle, "For Aristotle, "Nothing exists in the mind Nothing exists in the mind that has not first been experienced by the that has not first been experienced by the senses."senses."

►Simply, "Simply, "There is no such thing as a There is no such thing as a separate world of ideas."separate world of ideas."

CAUSALITY IN NATURECAUSALITY IN NATURE

►Modern/popular notion of cause: Modern/popular notion of cause: how how something came to besomething came to be

►example:example: RAINRAIN - the moisture in the clouds cools and - the moisture in the clouds cools and

condenses into raindrops that are condenses into raindrops that are drawn to the earth by the force of drawn to the earth by the force of gravity.gravity.

►For Aristotle, this is incomplete. For Aristotle, this is incomplete.

CAUSALITY IN NATURECAUSALITY IN NATURE

►THERE ARE ALWAYS 4 CAUSES OF A THERE ARE ALWAYS 4 CAUSES OF A THING:THING:

1. Material Cause1. Material Cause - material component - material component

2. Efficient Cause 2. Efficient Cause - that which makes the - that which makes the thing (external agent)thing (external agent)

3. Formal Cause3. Formal Cause - that which makes a thing - that which makes a thing what it iswhat it is

4. Final cause 4. Final cause - purpose for which the thing is - purpose for which the thing is made.made.

CAUSALITY IN NATURECAUSALITY IN NATURE►Example: RAINExample: RAIN

1. Material Cause1. Material Cause - moisture - moisture

2. Efficient Cause 2. Efficient Cause - cooling air- cooling air

3. Formal Cause3. Formal Cause - form or nature of water - to - form or nature of water - to fall to the earthfall to the earth

4. Final Cause 4. Final Cause - its purpose is to nourish the - its purpose is to nourish the earth and its dwellers.*earth and its dwellers.*

► In modern thought the efficient cause is In modern thought the efficient cause is generally considered the central generally considered the central explanation of a thing, but for Aristotle the explanation of a thing, but for Aristotle the final cause had primacy.final cause had primacy.

EVERYTHING CAN BE EVERYTHING CAN BE CATEGORIZEDCATEGORIZED

► Every object falls under a broader category and a Every object falls under a broader category and a certain subcategorycertain subcategory

► This also applies in the sciencesThis also applies in the sciences► Science is divided into different branches and that such Science is divided into different branches and that such

branches are parts of one coherent whole.branches are parts of one coherent whole.►PhysicsPhysics►BiologyBiology►PsychologyPsychology►LogicLogic►EthicsEthics►PoliticsPolitics►MetaphysicsMetaphysics

LOGICLOGIC

► One of Aristotle's major contribution to human One of Aristotle's major contribution to human knowledgeknowledge

► Found in his OrganonFound in his Organon► Logic is an instrument used for organizing our Logic is an instrument used for organizing our

thoughtsthoughts► based on correlation of termsbased on correlation of terms

LOGICLOGIC

► ex. (Syllogism)ex. (Syllogism)All creatures are mortalsAll creatures are mortalsGloria is a creatureGloria is a creatureGloria is a mortalGloria is a mortal

► Clear thinking that leads to a definitely true Clear thinking that leads to a definitely true conclusion.conclusion.

Plato & Aristotle Plato & Aristotle in Generalin General►True True

KnowledgKnowledge is e is found found “above”, “above”, in the in the world of world of ideas.ideas.

►True True KnowledgKnowledge is e is found found “here”, in “here”, in the world the world of things.of things.

Questions to PonderQuestions to Ponder

►What are the contributions of the two What are the contributions of the two great philosophers to science?great philosophers to science?

►How can we use their philosophies in How can we use their philosophies in our practical daily living?our practical daily living?