Aristotle is the best student of Plato. But he managed to get out from under the wing of the great teacher and create his own philosophical system. The philosophy of Aristotle concisely and clearly outlines the basic principles of being. His teaching can be divided into several major themes.
Logic
Ancient philosophy is justly proud of his works. Aristotle introduced the concept of category. In total, he identified 10 categories - the basic concepts necessary for knowledge. A special place in this series is occupied by the concept of essence - what an object really is.
Only operating with categories, you can create statements. Each of them acquires its own modality: chance, necessity, possibility or impossibility. A true statement is possible only if it meets all the laws of logical thinking.
Statements, in turn, lead to syllogisms - logical conclusions from previous statements. Thus, from what is already known, new knowledge is born, obtained through logical reasoning.
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a philosophy, the teaching of Aristotle, according to which the idea of an object and its essence are inextricably linked. Every thing has 4 reasons.
- Matter itself.
- Item idea.
- Possibilities hidden in the item.
- The result of the act of creation.
Matter itself wants to be framed in the essence of the subject, Aristotle called this desire entelechy. The transition of possibility into reality is action. In the process of action, more and more perfect objects are created. This movement strives for perfection, and perfection is God.
God as the very embodiment of the idea of perfection cannot be embodied in something better, therefore his role is only contemplation. The universe in its development tends to approach God as some kind of ideal. He himself is in blissful inactivity, but at the same time he cannot exist without the material world, like any other idea.
Physics
Aristotle's philosophy briefly and clearly describes the world. The basis of everything in the world are 4 traditional elements. They are created on the basis of opposites: dry - wet, warm - cold. Warm elements are fire and air. Warm tend to rise, and water and earth - down. Because of this movement in different directions, they mix, forming all objects.
Aristotle imagined the universe to be heliocentric. All the planets revolve around the earth in orbits, as well as the sun and moon. Next are the fixed stars. They are living beings, standing an order of magnitude higher than humans. All thissurrounded by a sphere filled with the divine element - ether. This system of ideas about the world was a huge step forward compared to more ancient ideas.
Nature and soul
Every living thing on earth has its own soul, and what does not have, seeks to acquire it. The philosophy of Aristotle briefly and clearly shows all the diversity of being on our planet. He singled out 3 types of soul. Vegetable - the lowest level, its purpose is only nutrition. The animal is a sentient soul; animals are capable of feeling and responding to the outside world. The human is the highest form of the soul possible on earth. The soul cannot exist without its material body.
Based on the idea of development, the whole natural world is also striving to move to a new level. Inanimate nature strives to pass into plants, plants into animals, animals into man, man into God. This development is manifested in the fact that life is becoming brighter and more diverse. There is a kind of evolution of the soul in the pursuit of perfection. Thus, the soul that reaches the highest point merges with God.
Ethics
Knowing what is good is not yet a virtue. Aristotle's philosophy briefly and clearly shows how to achieve perfection. The craving for good can only be created through repeated repetition of exercises aimed at making the act of good become performed unconsciously.
Good is the domination of the mind over the lower passions. The most important thing is not to go to extremes. Pleasure mustbe caused not by vicious actions, but by the awareness of one's morality.
The main value is fairness. Each person should try to do everything for the good of his state. The basis of the state is the family. Its head is undeniably a man, but a woman is not deprived of her freedom in everyday life. Children have fewer rights and are obliged to obey in everything the will of the head of the family.
Although Aristotle talked a lot about the value of freedom, he considered slavery legitimate. Wild people were placed by him almost on a par with animals, incapable of developing virtues. And in order for the citizens of Greece to develop these virtues, they cannot work physically.
A lot of books have been written about what Aristotle's philosophy is. But the main provisions can be summarized quite briefly. His idea of the world and nature fully corresponded to his time and was even advanced in some ways.
