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Plato as “Idealist” and Aristotle as “Realist” (?)—Reflecting the idea and the ousia in View of Comparative Philosophy



Author(s)

Hisaki Hashi

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DOI:10.17265/2159-5313/2017.08.001

One can see often in explanations of encyclopedia or lexicons of philosophy that Plato manifested primarily the absolute Idealism, whereas Aristotle verified antagonistically the relevance of realism. It is easy to pick up several parts of their representative works and prove that this thesis is corresponded to the original of Plato and Aristotle. But, in reflections of philosophy, we should not ignore a cautious view, focused just on this starting point: If the above mentioned thesis is used like a slogan, “Plato for idealism, Aristotle for realism,” as it often is, in the meantime there arises a dogmatic position which fixes our mental and intellectual activity only within the frame, so that everyone begins to reflect on Plato or Aristotle from that starting point in a certain framework. A critical and self-critical view of philosophy may bring this position for a query.

idealism, realism, Plato, Aristotle, reflection in comparative philosophy