The philosophy of Aristotle is brief and understandable. Basic Provisions

Aristotle is the best pupil of Plato. But he managed to get out from under the wing of the great teacher and create his own philosophical system. The philosophy of Aristotle briefly and clearly sets out the basic principles of being. His teaching can be divided into several major themes.

Logics

His works are rightly proud of ancient philosophy. Aristotle introduced the concept of category. In total he singled out 10 categories - the basic concepts necessary for cognition. A special place in this series is the concept of essence - something that the object is in fact.

Only in terms of categories, one can create utterances. Each of them acquires its modality: chance, necessity, possibility or impossibility. A true saying is possible only if it meets all the laws of logical thinking.

Statements, in turn, lead to syllogisms - logical conclusions from previous statements. Thus, from the already known, a new knowledge is born, obtained by logical reasoning.

Metaphysics

Metaphysics is the philosophy, the doctrine of Aristotle, according to which the idea of the object and its essence are inextricably linked. Each thing has 4 reasons.

1. Matter itself.
2. The idea of the subject.
3. Opportunities hidden in the subject.
4. The result of the act of creation.

Matter itself wants to be framed in the essence of the object, this desire Aristotle called entelechy. Transition of opportunity into reality is action. In the process of action, more and more perfect objects are created. This movement seeks perfection, and perfection is God.

God as the very embodiment of the idea of perfection can not incarnate into something better, therefore his role is only contemplation. The universe in its development tends to approach God as an ideal. He himself is in blissful inaction, but at the same time can not exist without the material world, like any other idea.

Physics

Philosophy of Aristotle briefly and clearly describes the world. The basis of all in the world are 4 traditional elements. They are created on the basis of opposites: dry - wet, warm - cold. Warm elements are fire and air. Warms aspire upward, and water and earth - down. Because of this movement in different directions, they mix, forming all objects.

Aristotle imagined a heliocentric universe. All the planets revolve around the earth in orbits, as well as the sun and the moon. Next are fixed stars. They are living beings who are an order of magnitude higher than a person. All this is surrounded by a sphere filled with the divine element - ether. This system of ideas about the world was a huge step forward, compared with more ancient ideas.

Nature and soul

All living things on earth have their soul, and what they do not, seeks to acquire it. The philosophy of Aristotle briefly and clearly shows the diversity of life on our planet. He singled out 3 kinds of soul. Vegetative - the lowest step, its purpose is only food. An animal is a sentient soul, animals are able to feel and respond to the external world. The human is the highest form of the soul possible on earth. The soul can not exist without its material body.

Based on the idea of development, the entire natural world also seeks to move to a new level. Inanimate nature tends to go to plants, plants to animals, animals to humans, man to god. This development is manifested in the fact that life is becoming ever brighter and more diverse. There is an original evolution of the soul in the pursuit of perfection. Thus, the soul that has reached the highest point merges with God.

Ethics

Knowing that which is good is not yet a virtue. The philosophy of Aristotle briefly and clearly shows how to achieve perfection. A craving for good can only be created through the numerous repetitions of exercises designed to make the act of good unknowingly.

Good is the domination of the mind over the lower passions. The most important thing is not to go to extremes. Pleasure should be caused not by vicious actions, but by awareness of one's morality.

The main value is justice. Everyone should try to do everything for the good of his state. The basis of the state is the family. Her head is undeniably a man, but the woman is not deprived of freedom in everyday life. Children have less rights and must obey the will of the head of the family.

Although Aristotle spoke a lot about the value of freedom, he considered slavery to be legitimate. Wild people were put to them almost level with animals, unable to develop virtues. And that these virtues can be developed by the citizens of Greece, they can not work physically.

About what the philosophy of Aristotle is written many books. But the main points can be stated rather succinctly. His idea of the world and nature fully corresponded to his time and even in some ways was advanced.