Philosophy-Ancient Philosophical influences

Question 1

Evaluate Plato’s view on the hierarchy of the forms, including the Form of The Good.

Answer 1

1. Plato’s view is unsuccessful because of his complete rejection of empiricism
2. Further reason to challenge Plato’s view is the vague nature of the hierarchy and the Forms within it
3. Finally it is clear Plato’s view is weak due to it being elitist and lacking practicality

Question 2

Plato’s analogy of the cave tells us nothing about reality. Discuss

Answer 2

1. To accept Plato’s analogy we have to accept rationalism over empiricism however he is wrong to fully dismiss it
2. Further reason to challenge the analogy of the cave is the vague nature of the forms it compares to
3. Finally it is clear that the analogy of the cave is problematic as it is elitist and lacks practical use

Question 3

To what extent does Plato’s view of the forms explain the nature of reality?

Answer 3

1. Plato’s theory is unsuccessful due to his complete rejection of empiricism
2. Further reason to challenge Plato’s theory is the vague nature of the forms themselves
3. Finally it is clear that Plato’s theory is problematic due to the fact that it is unfavourably elitist and lacks use

Question 4

To what extent does Aristotle’s theory of the four causes explain the nature of reality?

Answer 4

1. Aristotle’s theory is unsuccessful as his use of empiricism and scientific method is problematic
2. Further reason to challenge Aristotle’s theory is his view on telos being fundamentally flawed
3. Finally it is clear that Aristotle’s Prime Mover directly contradicts the rest of his theory of the four causes

Question 5

Critically evaluate Aristotle’s views on the Prime Mover

Answer 5

1. Aristotle’s views on the PM are unsuccessful because they contradict the rest of his empirical theory
2. Further reason to challenge Aristotle’s PM is because in order to accept it we have to accept telos
3. Finally it is clear that Aristotle’s PM is unsuccessful due to it being religiously unsatisfying

Question 6

Aristotle’s use of the senses to make sense of reality is more effective than Plato’s reliance on reason. Discuss

Answer 6

1. Aristotle’s use of the senses better explains reality because Plato is wrong to reject empiricism
2. Further reason to support Aristotle’s use of the senses is that while Plato’s reasoning is elitist Aristotle’s is more accessible
3. Finally it is clear that Aristotle’s use of the senses is more effective due to his empirical theory being better explained

Question 7

Plato’s Form of the Good is more convincing than Aristotle’s Prime Mover. Discuss

Answer 7

1. Aristotle’s PM is more convincing as it is better explained and more logical
2. Further reason to support the PM is that it is more religiously satisfying than the Form of the Good
3. Finally it is clear that Aristotle’s PM is more convincing as it is more accessible than the Form of the Good