Plato vs Aristotle

Plato and Aristotle

Introduction to the Greek Philosophers

By Marguerite Elias

Centuries people gave a tentative answer to the meaning of life, but not many of their ideas remained untouched. Greek philosophers changed the course of history when they introduced their love for wisdom, in times of democracy and even in times of war. Plato and Aristotle were among these ancient thinkers whose ethical philosophies remain prominent for discussion even today. Both of these philosophers present an idea on living the ‘good’ life, and despite the fact that Plato was Aristotle’s “teacher,” it is interesting to study the differences in their interpretation of life. While Plato today can be categorized as an idealist, we think of Aristotle as a realist.


Connecting Two Worlds

The world we live in now does not differ much from the ancient Greek times Plato and Aristotle have known: natural disasters and wars still occur. This could suggest that people are able to interpret their ideas on the ‘good’ life the same way as thousands of years ago; however a major difference nowadays is technology and the speed at which communication travels. In fact, the media plays a major part in our lives by influencing us everyday; it allows for more interaction with the rest of the world but at the same time, it removes us even further from reality while we remain in a state of ignorance.

Therefore, Plato and Aristotle’s ideas cannot be viewed upon separately. Plato’s idealism is necessary to pull us out of the cave where we see shadows and ignore reality, whereas Aristotle’s less abstract theory for happiness and the golden mean should be the engine that pushes us forward in life.


Plato- Daily Ethics

In the story of Gyges’ ring, Glaucon (a brother of Plato) presents the concept of human nature which suggests that “all men believe in their hearts that injustice is far more profitable to the individual justice” if the chance of being caught is minimal (10). Plato however, believes that not every person will choose unjust ways, since a person’s soul consists of three basic building blocks: reason, passion and desire. The development of these three elements forms the character of a person and results in proper virtues, thus allowing wisdom, temperance and courage to develop. Real happiness or pleasure comes from using reason to maintain a balance between passion and desires, which push you further in the direction of living a ‘just’ life. If a balance indeed exists there is no need to act unjust since a person would be able to control these engines to receive proper reward.


Aristotle-Daily Ethics

Aristotle on the other hand, argues that the ultimate human good is happiness. Still, the fact that man is naturally variable, therefore constantly changing must be kept in mind. Every person has a different will and needs compared to another. But since there is “more than one end, and we choose these for the sake of something else, clearly not all ends are final ends; but the chief good is evidently something final”(33). As a result, one man will value health more than material things in life, whereas another might find his life to be extremely well lived even if he becomes successful at the cost of his health. Nonetheless, man is never satisfied with what he has, as a result the main desire and passion (the engines of life as Plato suggests) must be regulated to find the one good that can be achieved in life, which is the ultimate end in itself. A good that is both final and self-sufficient, insisting that it is irreplaceable by any other virtue like “honor, pleasure and reason, we choose for the sake of happiness, judging that by means of them we shall be happy. Happiness one chooses for the sake itself” (33).


Combining Plato and Aristotle

Aristotle’s recently mentioned ideas of happiness are an interesting proposal to living the ‘good’ life on an ever day basis. Plato argues that there is a certain balance in our soul which allows us to live a just life, which in turn leads to ultimate happiness. These ideas equally seem attractive rules to live by daily in our world today. The combination of both ideas would present a more elaborate blueprint for the ‘good’ life.


Applications of Daily Ethics Today

For instance, a criminal whose first thought would be that living an unjust, easy life is the ultimate good if he won’t get caught would be able to follow Plato’s idea of the ‘just’ life. Again, in order to be able to live a just life, he would first of all need to harmonize his desires and passions. Secondly, he could then be blessed with the ultimate virtue of wisdom. Finally, realizing that happiness in itself is self-sufficient, final and attainable. Thus, in order for this ‘just’ life to be clear to the criminal he must realize the balance Plato advocates but finally understand the purpose of happiness as Aristotle defines it.


Plato’s Continuing Goals

In addition to these daily ethics Plato and Aristotle, have also presented ideas that can be classified by the name of continuing goals to lead a good life. Plato presents the knowledge of the Good in the form of an analogy referring to the sun for light with which the eyes are able to see. In the same way, understanding needs not only the mind to comprehend but also the Good, as a source of intelligence to understand the truth in life. Furthermore, in The Allegory of the Cave, Plato demonstrates that in order for the prisoners to be aware of the true meaning of the visible shadows, they must break the chains, turn around and face the bright sunlight that awaits them outside of the cave. Only once they’ve been illuminated it will hurt at first but then they will understand “ the Good, which appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual” (23).


Aristotle’s “Golden Mean”

In contrast to Plato’s idea of breaking the chains and becoming enlightened, Aristotle sees the golden mean as the ultimate good. As mentioned before, happiness was an end in itself. Nevertheless, the nature of virtue must first be explained as a state of character to be linked to happiness. Moral virtues are natural to us and they are perfected by practice: “men become builders by building, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts” (36). Therefore, it is only fair to wonder if we become happy by doing happy acts, since people are morally virtuous by nature they are capable of making choices which are propelled by desires. Is not every person seeking happiness as a moral virtue? By reasoning people make the right choices but they must be based on finding an intermediate point between the excesses and deficiencies, to be capable of finding the golden mean as “universal author”.


Conclusion-Leading a Good Life

In conclusion, it is not an easy task to choose between Plato and Aristotle’s arguments for leading a ‘good’ life. Their ideas are part of a larger puzzle that is left unsolved. The gap that the media present us with is like Plato’s cave: there is the ability to remain ignorant and therefore in a state of bliss, if left untouched. However, Plato wants the prisoners in the cave to break the chains so that they can find the ultimate good. The media offers this possibility to illuminate the shadows people see everyday, which would then lead them to find the truth. Plato’s idealism therefore is needed to push people to see thru the media, completing the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Nonetheless, once the puzzle is completed, Aristotle’s ideas represent the engine which drives people to seek for the further truth, beauty and light in life. When by practice man finds the golden mean he will easily stumble upon a state of happiness rather than the state of ignorance known in the cave.

The ultimate goal thus remains to enlighten the next generation by means of education, so that it becomes part of their nature, habit and ultimately a moral virtue. As a result, their life is thoroughly examined, hence, worth living.



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