If Plato believes in ultimate knowledge, Aristotle believes in common sense.Īccording to Aristotle, ruler need not to be wise in the world of ideas rather he has to be worldly wise.Īccording to Plato, idea exists independently of this world. If Plato is radical, Aristotle is conservative. If Plato is perfectionist, Aristotle believes in moderation / golden mean. If Plato is idealist, Aristotle is pragmatic. The basic difference is in their perspectives. Similarities.īoth belong to Socratic tradition and are critics of the sophists tradition.īoth give primacy to the state over individual. Actually he is not critic of Plato but trying to address the defects in the thoughts of Plato. in Western history.Īristotle is considered as the greatest disciple of Plato as well as the greatest critic of Plato.

He is also regarded as the originator of many important ideas like the rule of law, deliberative democracy, etc. Known as the father of Political Science, Aristotle’s book POLITICS remains an important contribution. Unfortunately he died shortly after in 322 BC at the age of 62. A pragmatic scholar himself, unlike Socrates who embraced punishment and drank hemlock, Aristotle fled to the island of Euboea.

When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, Aristotle (seen as a Macedonian sympathizer) was charged with impiety. He studied various subjects including biology, earth science, cosmology, politics, philosophy, ethics. While Plato believed in philosophy and speculation as the way to gain knowledge, Aristotle preferred experimentation. With the expansion of Macedonia under Alexander, Aristotle returned to Athens and founded his own school the Lyceum in 335 BC. After his education, he continued there as an instructor.Īfter spending around 20 years at the Academy, Aristotle went back to Macedonia, where he became a tutor to King’s son Alexander (The Great). There he studied under Plato in The Academy. At the age of 17, he was sent to Athens to pursue higher education. Born around 384 BC in Macedonia, Aristotle is known for more than one reason.

Aristotle on citizenship upsc