EDF 1005 Reflection Paper #14

Jackie Lawrence
EDF 1005
Reflection Paper #14

Aristotle acquired much of his knowledge from his teacher Plato in the Grove of Academus, a school that adjoined Plato’s home. Plato and Aristotle became close, even though they often disagreed in their thoughts. Aristotle took an interest in studying the facts and laws of the physical world, while Plato believed the Platonic Forms mattered more so in achieving enlightenment. Aristotle studied in Athens from the age of eighteen to thirty-seven, and then departed to Stagira, where he would tutor Alexander, the son of the King of Macedon. Because of Alexander’s riches, Aristotle now had an abundant amount of access to books on scientific knowledge. He formulated questions to ask when contemplating biological matter, which later became known as “Aristotle’s Four Causes.” These inquiries included the following: What is it made from? What is its form or essence? What produced it? For what purpose? This model resembles the beginnings of the Scientific Method, which is studied in schools today. Later, Aristotle returned to Athens and opened the Peripatetic school, where he dedicated much time to his writings, and is now accredited with the establishment of the first library. He believed that philosophy is actual science which is based on the fundamental nature of what is actual and real. In his book Metaphysics, Aristotle used philosophy to describe the nature of the universe in motion, which he called the unmoved mover. His philosophical “Great Chain of Being” classified the world by ranking living things from the least to most complex. His model probably influenced Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, as well as formed a basis for our classification of species today.
As you can see, the studies and beliefs of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle have played a key role in founding modern western education. They all thought it was imperative to establish their own fact base; never just blindly believe the opinions of others. In America’s contemporary society, this model of critical thinking is continually being considered more and more essential. Analyzing these great philosophers and their beliefs in contemporary education will help fabricate the great thinkers of tomorrow.