Need help understanding Philosophy

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I am struggling through Philosophy for the second time. I have once again come to the point that stumped me last time and since so many of you out there seem to really get this stuff could anyone help me understand. I would be forever grateful because this one class seems to be one that could keep me from this degree.

Here is the particular questions I am struggling with right now.
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TOPIC: In a three-to-five page paper, compare and contrast the philosophy of Plato with that of Aristotle.

Your paper should:

Clearly explain and contrast the metaphysics (general worldview) of each including comparisons of their theories of being (ontology), theories of knowledge (epistemology), moral theories (ethics), theories of politics, and theories of art.

Compare and contrast how Plato and Aristotle viewed reality in terms of matter and form.

Distinguish how Plato and Aristotle would answer the big questions such as: What is most real? What is knowledge? How do we gain knowledge that is certain? What is the best form of government? What are the value of the arts?, etc.
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I don't want anyone to do my work I just need someone to help me understand this in terms I can understand. I really struggle with understanding the differences between Plato and Aristotle.

Thanks,
Y

I recently read about this in a book on the history of science, but I don't have a memory for details of this sort unless they are related to something important in my mind. Here is a pretty good short page discussing Aristotle with some comparisons to plato.

http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virgi ... stot2.html

It seems to me that Plato was the idealist and Aristotle more of a pragmatist.

Don't even ask me about Aristotle or I shall go on a fifteen (or thereabouts) page rant about him.

Spacemonkey is correct here. Aristotle often, but not always, based his understanding of reality on physical appearance. Long before Copernicus, he realized that the earth must be round because lunar eclipses are always a circular arc.

Plato, on the other hand, expresses his view of reality through the parable of the cave. There is a "reality," but most of us have been made essentially blind to it by other influences.

Or something like that.

*grins broadly* Would love to help, but I quite philosophy halfway through year 12. I'm doing it at uni now, but given that I have been to about 2 out of 10 classes and have yet to start a piece that was due today... sorry!

Thanks everyone. A lot of this has helped me at least understand the difference. Spacemonkey the site was great.

It also helps to know that others struggle with this

Would you recommend studying philosophy at UNI? I'm thinkin of taking it next year, because I love Plato and questioning and that kinda stuff (just don't ask me about it I'm trying to immerse myself in school work instead of reading Plato ).

I took a philosophy class last semester and had no trouble understanding or even expounding on the concepts; however, picking out those concepts from Renaissance age texts was VERY difficult. I wouldn't have passed if we weren't allowed to take home the tests and quizes and then email them in. I used the internet and got the summations of those pieces so I could understand what the hell they were writing about. Philosophers are not always the clearest of writers... and very abstract, too, and that's when my reading comprehension drops severely.

I suggest using the internet.