Contribution of Plato, and Aristotle to Psychology - Research Paper Example

? Biography of Greek Philosophers Plato & Aristotle, and their contribution to Psychology Introduction Philosophy isa subject like any other subjects. It is the study of universal and essential tribulations, for example, those linked to actuality, survival, knowledge, worth, motive, intellect, and language. Philosophy is different other subjects in the manner in which it addresses tribulations. This is whereby it applies its critical, general systematic approaches as well as its dependence on logical argument. Concisely, philosophy refers to the fundamental beliefs, notions, and attitudes of individuals or groups of people. Those studying philosophy are known as philosophers. Philosophers use the knowledge of philosophy to solve philosophical tribulations. There are three widely known philosophers. They have widely helped and put efforts in the study of psychology. Whenever mentions the word, “psychology,” the ancient Greek philosopher comes to the picture (Perks, 2012). Thus, psychology is the study of the mind and a more methodical approach towards comprehending and curing mental situations. Therefore, to comprehend the logic behind philosophy, one has to comprehend the contributions of philosophers in the contemporary globe. This essay will study two main Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle and their contribution towards psychology (Martin, Sugarman & Hickinbottom, 2010). Plato and Aristotle are some of the greatest philosophers in history, their ideas and works inspired and continue to inspire philosophy to date. It is no wonder they are largely studied and mentioned even today, apart from being philosophers, the three were also of Greek origin. Thus, they shared the same cultural, environmental, and political setting, which is a major factor for their philosophical ideas. The three philosophers had another relationship worth mentioning, Aristotle was Plato’s favorite student while Plato was Socrates. Thus, Socrates inspired Plato who later inspired Aristotle. Although there are areas where the three differed, their relationship largely affected their philosophy; moreover, Socrates’ philosophy can still be seen in Plato and Aristotle. To understand the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, which forms the critical focus of this paper, we are going to examine each of them individually. In the end, a conclusion will be drawn based on their works and thoughts. History of Plato and his Influence on Psychology Plato is a Greek philosopher who was born in 428-429 BC (Merrell, Ervin & Gimpel, 2012). Plato was not his actual name, his actual name was Aristocles; moreover, he was an epithet who was a known wrestler, but he left his career after failing to qualify for the Olympic Games. Socrates influenced Plato’s entry to philosophy whereby he thought him about the idea of intellectual independence; thus, after Socrates’ death, Plato continued with philosophy work. Plato’s philosophy is derived from his writings that were the records of Socrates’ dialogues; therefore, it is certain to say that Plato largely shared Socrates’ philosophy. Plato trusted that as human beings, we were born with knowledge, this knowledge was divine and from the gods. Whereby at birth, individuals have knowledge, and as they grow up, all that is necessary is a recollection of the knowledge. As a result, Plato believed that knowledge was not empirical in nature. Plato believed that when human beings infer or gain knowledge of something they are in fact recollecting something they previously are familiar with by virtue of their eternal, divine nature. Therefore, by human beings refuting their passions with courage, which is administered by their thinking they could dust off all their Divine knowledge and go back to the heavens upon death, avoiding another birth in the material world. These are three level of human nature according to Plato, and that is why human beings are attracted to specific things in this world. Plato is his work, alienated truth into the perfect phenomena, the ideal is universal, permanent, and it is the final reality. The phenomena are changing and are based on time, space, and matter (Grondin, 2008). They include those things that we can perceive using our senses such as shape, smell, and color. According to Plato, in the physical world, there is a heavenly dominion of bigger truth comprising of Forms, Ideals, or Ideas, for example, Equality, Justice, Humanity. He also trusted in the existence and eternal life of the soul, Plato argued that living is zilch as compare to the captivity of the soul and body (Vondey, 2011). On the other hand, Plato viewed justice as a situation where the society was balanced between the warriors, rulers, and producers. This involved the rulers coming up with good governance and policies, the warriors rightly executing the policies and the producers producing the sustenance of the society. Plato also considered women as equal to men in that they could perform similar tasks. However, the just society according to Plato differs from modern perceptions of such a society. The modern society is based on freedom of choice and not talents or suitability. Out of this, Plato made achievement by writing a book known as The Republic. In his book, he talks about the ideal that is based on justice and human virtue (Silvermintz, 2010). Plato describes the ideal city using the Allegory of the Cave that was used by Socrates to describe the real world. Additionally, in the Allegory of the Cave Plato explains the problems that human beings find themselves in and suggest a way of salvation. Precisely, the Cave depicts Plato’s main philosophical supposition in which he believes that the world disclosed by human beings’ senses is considered not to be a genuine world but an imitation of it, in addition to that, he describes a genuine world as the one that can only be held intellectually. Plato also argues that knowledge cannot be conveyed from teacher to student, and that education is meant for directing the student’s mind to what is genuinely significant by allowing them to understand it for themselves, and that through faith the world is ultimately good. Plato’s assurance is that open-minded people have a duty regarding the society, and that an excellent society has to be truly wise especially the rulers (Plato, 2010). The figure below is Plato’s Cave that was described by Socrates as he had a conversation with his student Glaucon. Adapted from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/platoscave.html In the picture, Socrates explains the human nature enlightenment or not enlightened in which human beings stay in the closed world and are not ready to change, just like the prisoners who are only allowed to see their shadow through the lighted fire. Plato’s objective of explaining the ideal state was to clarify the nature of the just soul that to him was equivalent. To him the ideal state was the soul, for instance, the partitions of the state match with the partition of the soul (Vondey, 2011). However, since the soul is complex to examine, Socrates argued that he would first study the state, and then rely on his assumptions to explain the nature of justice in the individual. Therefore, Plato asserted that, the ideal city was one that reflection the world, on one hand, and the human beings on the other. Purportedly, the qualities of the ideal state were mostly an interpretative set-up. Plato could not have considered that his effort would be demanded to set up a number of his most fundamental ideas. This is because he was unhappy with the city-states of his day, and was suggesting an alternative. In Plato’s ideal state, three main classes matched with the three components of the soul, the guardians, who were recognized as philosophers were entitled to rule the city. The auxiliaries were defense force who defended the city, and the low class consisted of the manufacturers. The guardians and auxiliaries had equivalent curriculum that started with melodies and writings and ended with physical exercises. The arts are censored for educational purposes: for example, any poetic writing that attributes immoral deeds to the gods cannot be taught. Only poetry that nurtures the growing qualities of the student can be part of the syllabus. Similarly, the music style that sounded sorrowful, malleable, or feminine, was abolished from the curriculum of the guardians. This apparently leaves only the Dorian and Phrygian modes, of which Socrates agreed with since they motivate the listener to courage, restraint, and pleasant living. Particular instruments, for instance the flute, are also not allowed in the ideal city-state, like certain poetic indicators, because Socrates linked them with evil. On the contrary, Plato wrote five qualities that depicted the way in which the city ought to be ruled. He viewed justice as a situation where the society was balanced between the warriors, rulers, and producers. This involved the rulers coming up with good governance and policies, the warriors rightly executing the policies and the producers producing the sustenance of the society. He argued that the best form of governance was an aristocratic form under the leadership of philosophical kings. Isocratic type of power based on the auspicious was his second attribute. Oligarchy was his third form of governance that was based on the rule “by the few.” Democracy and Tyranny were his fourth and fifth features respectively that represented the rule by the many. Plato authoritatively upheld that to be a member of the guardian class, one had to acquire suitable expertise, and he assumed that future guardians were to be children of those who held places of honor in present life. He argues that incase the residents portray any discontent with their assigned roles, he suggested they be compared to metals gold, silver and bronze which are not naturally similar because each of them have a specific purpose in the society as a whole (Silvermintz, 2010). Undeniably, life in Plato’s ideal state resembles life under an authoritarian government. Socrates criticized this life and laws and according to him, they are suppressive. For instance, in Plato’s ideal city people are permitted to have just one career for which they are best talented naturally. He believed that a just society is one in which people are free to perform tasks that they are best suited for; additionally, there should be no division amid the public and the private. Plato only encouraged a favorable and moderate life for every member. On the other hand, wealth, greed, poverty, and subordination are strongly downcast in an ideal city because they lead to evil in society. It was a sketch of societal and political association, it allowed individuals to exploit their talents, serve their fellow citizens, and live in harmony with collective laws and truths (Silvermintz, 2010). Nevertheless, Plato’s views on women and children are horrific and may be considered laissez-faire. Plato also considered women as equal to men in that they could perform similar tasks. For instance, he disagrees through Socrates with the customary form of family and suggests that it should be eliminated. His suggestions are that men to have women and children in common, such that no man distinguishes whom his children are or have extreme love for one woman in particular. In addition to that, women are not permitted to recognize who their children are whereby their children are taken from them after birth, and they are given other children to breastfeed on condition that they have milk. Plato’s breeding principles threatens and it resembles the Nazi notion, and Spartan observation of killing the feeble and malformed children. However, the just society according to Plato differs from modern perceptions of such a society. The modern society is based on freedom of choice and not talents or suitability (Silvermintz, 2010). More congenial to modern sentiment is Plato’s suggestion that women in the guardian class should receive the same education as men, so that the best of them can assist in war and governance. There are no secretive possessions or wealth apart from the required, amid the lesser classes. For that reason, there should be no disagreement regarding who is in ownership of certain things. Additionally, there should be no argument in relation to women and children; moreover, they were also not to complain or argue on who their parents or partners were respectively. The wellbeing of the society is the superseding idea in every part of life, the entire drastic instruction of Plato followed his single idea (Silvermintz, 2010). Plato argued that if human beings were to take his teachings seriously and follow them, a single philosophical king would be selected base on his fascist in which the whole, ideal society would orient to fulfill the will of the leader. He linked this to the soul whereby he argued that the soul ought to be familiarized to gratify the will of the coherent mind. This wish was the last of Plato’s certified reputation. However, he failed in two detached period as a court philosopher, and unable to execute his Republic in the territory of Syracuse. In addition to that, he was imprisoned two times; consequently, Plato withdrew from the public life, and built an academy where he devoted his life. He passed on in 347 B.C (Merrell, Ervin & Gimpel, 2012). History of Aristotle and his Influence on Psychology Aristotle is the prominent philosophers of all time. Aristotle’s psychology was entangled with his philosophy of the mind, way of thinking, and ethics. After Plato’s death, Aristotle rose to the occasion and began his school after being teacher of Alexander the Great for a few years. Although he was Plato’s favorite student, Aristotle differed from both Socrates and Plato teachings (Nevid, 2013). He was an empirical philosopher as opposed to Socrates and Plato who were rational; besides that, Aristotle differed on the issue regarding universals. He believed that the universal exists within an object and that a universal must be attached to something that is instantiated. Deism influences Aristotle’s philosophy, he believed that there was existence of a ‘prime mover’ that set everything in action worldwide. He wrote the first known book in the history of psychology, called Para Psyche, 'About the Mind.' In his book, Aristotle suggested that the mind was the main motive for the survival and operation of the body. This was highly manipulated by Aristotle's zoology, in these thoughts, he suggested three forms of souls that defined life, they consist of the plant soul, the animal soul, as well as the human soul. All these categories gave humankind the exceptional ability of reasoning, and creating; amusingly, the human soul associated Aristotle with religion. Aristotle alleged that the mind and motive might survive autonomously of the body (Vondey, 2011). Aristotle was one of the first philosophers to study the desire and wish that directed and described life. He believed that the libido and desire to produce was the superseding wish of all living things under the influence of the 'plant soul.' His psychology suggested that permitting craving to control motive would result to an unhealthful inequity and the propensity to execute dreadful activities. Even if he partly associated this to the procedure of attaining mortality and satisfying the intention of a religious mind, he recommended this productive desire several years before Darwin. This is an example of one of the large instinctive psychological bounds that describe Aristotle's heritage. Distinctively, Aristotle comprehended the value of time, this was based on the events that drove a human being, through wish alarmed by the current reasoning, future, and lasting results. This is one of the motivating forces for economic fall down, environmental deprivation, and political famous. Alternatively, Aristotle's psychology incorporated a research in the creation of the human mind. Contrasting Plato’s ideas, Aristotle believed in fostering, he states that the human mind was plain during birth. He also asserts that teaching an individual as well as divulging them to skills would describe the creation of the mind and construct a hoard of knowledge (Bennett, 2007). Regarding ethics, Aristotle argued that it was pragmatic in nature, this implies that for one to be considered ethical, they must perform their roles rightly. For example, teachers must teach because rightly because it is their role. He further explained as human beings, our function is happiness (Marangos & Astroulakis, 2010); thus, all man’s activities are directed towards creating happiness. Plato regarded truth politics to be a collection of various parts including the rich and poor, families and among others. True politics therefore existed for the sake of life and served to bring happiness and fulfillment to the people. Therefore, more people ought to have knowledge about Aristotle and his thoughts of what controls human behavior. As a result, Aristotle should rightfully, be considered the founder of the theory of behaviorism. Conclusion There is change in truth according to Plato and Aristotle; for instance, Plato argues that the truth or ideal is based on thought. This truth sought is inherent within individuals. He, therefore, advocated for intellectual independence and critical analysis to discover that truth. Additionally, Plato was discontented with the world that had spread-out around him, however instead of seeing therapy merely in persons advancing themselves, Plato identified cure in new institutions, for example, through writing his book regarding an “Ideal City”, and constructing an Academy where he taught aspiring philosophers after retiring from taking part in active philosophy. Conversely, Aristotle differed with this notion of truth, he trusted that the truth is experiential. Aristotle argued that the truth is not inherent in humans. Hence, in order to unearth the truth, humans must engage in a practical search for it. Aristotle also thought that the truth or virtue differs from place to place and hence different people may have different virtues. Nevertheless, his work is the foundation of contemporary techniques; currently, psychologists note, and totally comprehend the fundamentals of Aristotelian idea. They also identify his input in the history of psychology; additionally, his plans persist to manipulate contemporary psychologists. References Bennett, M. R. (2007). Development of the concept of mind. Australian & New Zealand Journal Of Psychiatry, 41(12), 943-956. doi:10.1080/00048670701689477 Grondin, S. (2008). Psychology of time. Bingley, UK: Emerald. Marangos, J., & Astroulakis, N. (2010). The Aristotelian Contribution to Development Ethics. Journal Of Economic Issues (M.E. Sharpe Inc.), 44(2), 551-558. doi:10.2753/JEI0021-3624440228 Martin, J., Sugarman, J., & Hickinbottom, S. (2010). Persons: Understanding psychological selfhood and agency. New York: Springer. Merrell, K. W., Ervin, R. A., & Gimpel, P. G. (2012). School psychology for the 21st century: Foundations and practices. New York: Guilford Press. Nevid, J. S. (2013). Psychology: Concepts and applications. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Perks, L. (2012). The ancient roots of humor theory. Humor: International Journal Of Humor Research, 25(2), 119-132. doi:10.1515/humor-2012-0007 Plato, . (2010). The allegory of the cave. Brea, CA: P & L Publication. Silvermintz, D. (2010). Plato's Supposed Defense of the Division of Labor: A Reexamination of the Role of Job Specialization in the Republic. History Of Political Economy, 42(4), 747-772. doi:10.1215/00182702-2010-036 Vondey, W. (2011). Aristotle, On the Life-Bearing Spirit (De spiritu): A Discussion with Plato and his Predecessors on Pneuma as the Instrumental Body of the Soul. Pneuma: The Journal Of The Society For Pentecostal Studies, 33(2), 318-319. doi:10.1163/027209611X575267 Read More