Table of Contents

  1. Introduction                                                                2
  2. Life of Aristotle                                                                2
  3. Concept of Epistemology                                                        3
  4. Aristotle’s Epistemology                                                        4
  5. Conclusion                                                                5
  6. Cited Works                                                                7

Understanding the Life and Philosophy of Aristotle

        Philosophers have always sought to find a solution to a particular philosophical problem.  For Socrates, the problem was whether there existed absolute moral norm or standard and whether the relativist philosophy of the Sophists is tenable.  Plato, on the other hand, was concerned with the immutability of nature.  Aristotle was no exception.  He inherited from his predecessors the difficult question of “what is the nature of reality?” and “what is the source of knowledge?” He thought that he needed to provide a solution to this question so that he could liberate the people from the erroneous metaphysical speculations of his predecessors.    

        This research paper discusses about the life and philosophy of Aristotle.  The first part of the paper will deal with a short background of Aristotle’s life.  The second part will deal the concept of epistemology and the distinction between Empiricism and Rationalism.  In the latter part, Plato’s epistemological philosophy will be contrasted with Aristotle’s philosophy.  

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Life of Aristotle

        Aristotle was the last of the famous Greek Triumvirate.  The first two were Socrates and Plato.  Aristotle was born in 384 B. C. in Macedonian town of Stagira.  His interest in the natural sciences started when he was still at a very young age which can be attributed to the influence of his family.  His father was a physician who was a member of the Asklepiad family, which claimed to be descendants of Asklepios, the Greek god-physician. (“Philosophy of Aristotle: Philosophy is a Way of Life” 1)  It is said that his parents trained him and ...

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