Aristotle vs Socrates?

Question

how would Aristotle criticize Socrates view that "if i learn better, I shall cease to do what i am doing unwillingly"?

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Answer 1

The particular line you quote was spoken by Socrates in his defense in court, written by Plato (the "Apology of Socrates"). It's really part of an argument he's making, and loses much of his thrust without the remainder of the argument. So allow me to reconstruct it briefly:

Socrates points out that it's better to be around good people than bad people. This is, perhaps, obvious - bad people are likely to do bad things to you, while good people are likely to do good things to you.

In court, he's accused of intentionally corrupting the people around him. Socrates argues that this is ridiculous. What person would knowingly CREATE the bad people he would never knowingly want to be around? At best, he argues, his actions were un-knowing and mis-guided. And if someone makes a mistake, all they need to is learn how not to make it and presumably they will endeavour not to do so.

Here's the key point: Socrates believed that knowledge was all that was necessary to stop making mistakes and avoid unvirtuous deeds.

Aristotle, on the other hand, recognized something else that plays into the picture: habits. Many people KNOW what is right and wrong, they just don't DO it. And in Aristotle's mind, being good was much more a matter of action than thought, and therefore also much more a matter of habit than study.

Aristotle probably would have pointed out that Socrates was all too aware even before the trial that he was making some people unhappy and threatening his own continued place in the community. And if Socrates knew this, why then did he not stop or at least choose a more moderate course of instruction (Aristotle loved moderation)? It was most likely the Socrates simply couldn't resist his impulses honed through years of criticism of authority. Too much courage in the face of critics, Aristotle would say, is foolhardiness, not bravery.

Hope that helps! Keep studying - they both had very interesting ideas!

Answer 2

Socrates Aristotle Plato

Answer 3

Socrates And Aristotle

Answer 4

You have it backwards. Plato was Socrates student. Socrates did not write anything down. Most of what we know of Socrates is through Plato. Plato used Socrates as a character in his books and other various writings. I bet although Plato shared many of Socrates' ideas, Plato must have stuck in some of his own ideas in the speeches of Socrates, so in a way Plato is represented through Socrates. Yes Aristotle was Plato's student and as an added curiosity, Alexander the Great was Aristotle's student. Seems like greatness always follows greatness.

Answer 5

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RE:
Aristotle vs Socrates?
how would Aristotle criticize Socrates view that "if i learn better, I shall cease to do what i am doing unwillingly"?

Answer 6

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Answer 7

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Answer 8

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