Plato / Aristotle Study Guides

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was one of the most important western philosophers, a student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great, and tremendously influential in the Middle Ages. Aristotle wrote on logic, nature, psychology, ethics, politics, and art.

Plato was one of the most famous, respected, and influential philosophers of all time. A type of love (Platonic) is named for him. We know the Greek philosopher Socrates mostly through Plato's dialogues.

Wtexts of Plato's dialogues in English translation.

Plato did not support democracy. In this passage of Protagoras one possible problem with democracy is addressed.

Aristotle distinguishes between good and bad forms of ruling, whether it be rule by one, a few, or many. For him, democracy is not the best form of government.

A Guest Submission by a philosophy class taught by Michael Bakaoukas of the University of Piraeus. The primary focus is on Socrates' moral philosophy and its effects on both Plato and Aristotle.

By Brian B. Clayton, three immortality arguments, objections, and replies, followed by a glance at Plato as forerunner of Aristotle's causes.

Passages from the Nichomachean Ethics and elsewhere, with explanation of various aspects of what Aristotle means by virtue.

Plato's theory to explain how can humans live a fulfilling, happy life in a world where everything can be taken away and how the world can appear to be both permanent and changing.

By Edward F. Little, a thorough discussion of the dialogue with an outline. The main part cotains eight hypotheses on unity.