Aristotle vs Plato Essay -- Metaphysics,The Four Causes, Soul and Body

Aristotle is considered by many to be one of the closely influential philosophers in history. As a student of Plato, he construct on his mentors metaphysical teachings of liaisons like The Theory of Forms and his views on the someone. However, he also challenged them, introducing his own metaphysical ideas such as bite and potency, hylemorphism, and the four causes. He used these ideas to explain his account of the soul and the incorporeality of intellect. Prior to Aristotle, philosophers like Parmenides and Heraclitus argued about the existence of change. Aristotle used the terms deed and potency to respond to Parmenides arguments about changes non-existence and bridge the open between Parmenides and Heraclitus polar views. Aristotle used act and potency to examine legion(predicate) things such as, motion, causality and metaphysics. He explained that the act or actuality of a thing is its truest way of existence and that potency or potential is a things p otential of being, further than its current existence. For example, a soccer eggs is in actuality on the field but in potential difference it can be kicked and enclose the goal. According to Aristotles reasoning, the becoming or change of the soccer clod occurs when a potential is actualized. Though these changes occur, the thing itself stays the same. When the ball is kicked, it loses the actuality of being on the field and gains the actuality of being in the goal in turn, the ball then loses the potentiality of being in the goal and gains the potentiality of being on the field. Aristotle later explains that the full reality of a thing is when the actuality and potentiality of a thing are combined. He notes that while things can be pure potency, meaning not actual or real, that there is... ...usible argument. I can see the pull ining in both schools of thought. If I were to find logically I would say Aristotle, because he based his conclusions on perception and evidence. How ever, it is their views on the soul where I make my decision on who I (If I had to choose) agree with. I personally believe that the soul, my soul, is something that exists separate from my body. I believe that my body is a temporary and imperfect thing, but that my soul is immortal. I cannot say that I have come to this conclusion because it is the more(prenominal) plausible answer, but rather a belief in my religious belief that this life is temporary and all souls are eternal. While I understand that this view isnt completely in line with Platos, I suppose Platos is closer than Aristotles to mine.Aristotle. De Anima. Basic Works of Aristotle. Ed. Richard McKeon. New York ergodic House, 1941.