After our symposia, I have made up my mind as to who is more clear between Aristotle and Plato.
Plato, being influenced by Socrates, seemed to be limited by a fantasy world. Whereas Aristotle's observations can be applied to our modern world. Plato's orderly state, where everyone has a designated if not forced role, wouldn't attract many supporters in our majorly democratic world. History has taught us, time and time again, that the masses cannot be left without a voice. This is the very reason for most of the revolutions, coup d'états, and overthrows of government in history. Aristotle gives people an aim in life: virtue. Applying Aristotle's arguments could, in reality, improve society's crime rates, disorderly conduct, and eliminate corruption.
All is not bad with Plato's theories, however. I agree with his view on justice bringing order and humanity. Both philosophers even agree on the importance of using reason as a method of preventing disorder. Everyone can agree if more people used reason, we wouldn't see so many foolish behaviors. In conclusion, I enjoyed our class discussion because it brought Plato's and Aristotle's philosophies to life in a way. Experience in real-life encounters, in the end, is what Aristotle, the student, believed in.
I agree with what you said Emanuel when you talk about our class discussion bringing the two characters, the teacher and the student, to life. With that I was also able to truly understand both the philosophers standpoint and be able to realize that Aristotle, the student, might have a more ideal way of living life according to his books. It seems to me that the world cannot just be controlled through three parts of state as Plato says and that there has to be ambition and dreams that could be achievable through desire to fulfill. Which is more of what Aristotle gets the idea from. Happiness in Aristotle's point of view is the highest achievable happiness which in my opinion fits into Maslow's idea of self-actualization and achieving one's purpose by doing all they can do and being all they can be.
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