Ethical Theorists, Aristotle
...ve that the only thing that mattered was the idea realm with perfect thoughts and forms. Aristotle agreed with Plato that the cosmos was rationally designed and that philosophy could come to know absolute truths by studying universal forms. Their two ideas diverged because Plato believed that the universe exists apart from particular things, and that material things were but a shadow of true reality, while Aristotle thought that one finds the universe in particular things. This fundamental difference between the two philosophers, Plato thought only pure mathematical reasoning was necessary, Aristotle involved both inductive and deductive reasoning. He observed the working of the world around him, and then reasoned to a particular knowledge of a universal law. In this sense, Aristotle was the first major proponent of the modern scientific methods used today. In 335BC, Aristotle founded his own Academy Lyceum, and ran it for twelve years. This is where he wrote extensively on a wide range of subjects: politics, metaphysics, ethics, logic, and science. In 323BC, Alexander the Great died and anti-Macedonian forces overthrew the Athens government. Aristotle fled and died about a year later after complaining of a stomach illness. His writings were preserved by his student Theophrastus, his successor of the Academy in Athens. He and his heirs concealed the books in a vault to protect them from theft and destruction, but they were damaged by dampness. They were found around 100BC and brought to Rome where scholars prepared new editions of them. The writings of Aristotle what we have today are based on this collection. Aristotle’s Philosophy can be divided into four main areas: Logic; Theoretical Philosophy, including Physics and Mathematics; Practical Philosophy, such as Ethics and Politics; and Poetical Philosophy, covering the study of poetry and fine arts. Aristotle...