The Reality Of Realism: Plato And The Aristotelian Philosophy

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The Realist perspective is what the both personalities have. Aristotle is known to be a critic of his teacher Plato, who is known to be an Idealist. Plato’s prescriptions are collectively recorded in ‘The Republic’. Aristotle’s reaction to the recommendations of Plato possesses an indication of disagreement that does not conform to idealist perspective. According to Irwin (1988, p.5), Aristotle commits to a metaphysical realist notion of what knowledge and reality is. This shows the Aristotelian philosophy is heavily committed to concept reality in the context of their time. Aristotle’s realist perspective may not be applicable to the modern day standards of realism, however his realist view stood out beyond his time where in the philosophers’ inclination is to idealism. Aristotle’s idea of the truth is the reason why he is committed with the realist perspective. “Aristotle’s remarks about truth show his commitment to metaphysical realism”. (Irwin, 1988, p.5) This statement explains why the truth is an important concept in Aristotle’s Realist view, because it boils down to the collection facts that will be the basis of his inquiry that will create an objective reality. What also sets the Aristotelian realist view to the Thucydidean is its triviality. This is because all things that constitutes Aristotle’s philosophy involves the things which regards to the nature of things, in contrast to Thucydides’ accounts that is trivial and is a result of certain events. Historians,