Aristotle's Philosophy: Metaphysics and Plato Critique

Aristotle's Critique of Plato's Ideas

Aristotle critiques Plato's Theory of Ideas. Aristotle focuses his philosophy on the sensible world. Plato believed the world of ideas is the true reality, and the world that surrounds us is merely an imperfect copy of those ideas. Aristotle initially agreed with this doctrine but later developed doubts, which eventually turned into strong criticism and rejection.

There are three main criticisms:

1. First, if the sensible, material world around us is an imperfect copy of the ideas, then logically everything that exists must have a perfect model. This would imply a 'perfect model of evil.' Aristotle argues we cannot accept that everything negative and bad in the world has a perfect counterpart in the world of ideas.
2. Second, the essence of a thing—what makes it what it is—is its corresponding idea according to Plato. Aristotle questions how the essence of a thing can be separated from the thing itself.
3. Third, Plato's theory fails to explain the characteristic features of the sensible world, namely movement and change.

Aristotle's Metaphysics

The term metaphysics was first used by Andronicus of Rhodes, a disciple of Aristotle who was responsible for editing the Aristotelian corpus.

The Problem of Change

One of the central concerns for philosophers has been rationally explaining the world around us. This interest led to research on change and movement. Early physicists spoke of a diverse reality that is constantly changing (like the seasons). Aristotle rejected Plato's theory of movement, arguing it wasn't a true explanation but rather a combination of Heraclitus's and Parmenides's ideas that ultimately failed to explain change.

Substantial Reality

Aristotle called reality—that which exists—substance. Substances are the particular, individual things around us. A substance is concrete, existing at a particular time and place, and is part of the sensible world. For Aristotle, substance integrates Plato's two worlds (sensible and intelligible). Substance consists of matter (corresponding loosely to Plato's sensible world) and form (corresponding loosely to Plato's intelligible world). Examples include a book or a table.

Hylomorphism

Within individual substances, we find the physical component (matter) and the specific qualities that make a thing what it is (form). These two components, matter and form, can only be separated theoretically, never in reality. This theory of the inseparable union of matter and form is called hylomorphism. Matter is the underlying support for form. Without matter, there can be no substance, and without form, there is no defined substance.