Aristotle developed a philosophical system called realism that rejected Plato's idealism. While influenced by Plato, Aristotle believed that ideas could only be understood by studying real, existing things in the material world using observation and the senses. He outlined seven principles of his realism, including that universal ideas exist in matter but not vice versa, that the soul aims to balance rational thought with emotions and desires, and that matter is always changing towards some purpose or final form determined by its definition.

1. ARISTOTLE’S
REALISM
(384-322 B.C)

2. 2
 Born in 384 B.C at Stagira.
 Son of a Physician at court of Macedon.
 Went to Plato’s Academy.
 Remained there until Plato’s death in 347 B.C.
 Called by Phillip II to educate his son Alexander the Great.
 Later opened his own school named “Lyceum” (Peripatetic
or walking school).
 Students, there conducted researches in subjects of botany,
biology, logic, music, mathematics, astronomy, medicine,
arts, metaphysics, psychology,…………………………
 They were asked to dissect reptiles, science of observation
and manual work was quite new in Greek world.

3. 3
ARISTOTLE’S REALISM
 he never got out from the influence of his teacher, Plato.
 he had his own views, but the basis of his Realism are found within
Plato’s idealism.
 he developed the view that ideas may be important but a proper study of
“MATTER” could lead us to better and more distinct ideas.
 the central theme of realism is that “ reality, knowledge and values exist
independently of human mind”.
 Aristotle rejects the idealist’s view that ideas are real.
 he thinks that matter exists even though there is no mind to perceive it,
matter is certainly an independent reality.

4. 4
Seven Principles of Aristotle’s
Realism

5. 5
PRINCIPLE # 1:
Ideas (or forms) can exist without matter, but no matter can exist without form or idea.
Each piece of matter has universal and particular properties e.g. all human beings are
different in appearance, sizes, no two are alike still they share universal form of
‘humanness’. Universal form is the idea or essence that is a non-material aspect of a
single material object which relates it to all other objects of the group. Aristotle
defined various concepts on the basis of universal form. This universal form can be
realized by examining existing material objects. Like Plato, Aristotle says we should
understand reality of all things. Plato achieves it through reasoning, while Aristotle
achieves it by studying material things through five senses.

6. 6
PRINCIPLE # 2:
Universal form or properties of things
never change. But particular components
change as they grow or die. He believes
that form is constant but matter is always
changing. He describes form as the soul
and tells that soul has a purpose.

7. 7
PRINCIPLE # 3:
As design and purpose is present in the universe
and thus, all things happen in orderly manner. We
can understand universe by understanding the
purposes. e,g Human has free will to think. If we
refuse to think or think poorly it shows that we
go against our design and creation, and suffer the
consequences of unhappiness.

8. 8
PRINCIPLE # 4:
Vegetative soul or plant life
Represents the lowest level.
It has only nutritive faculty
or the power of receiving
nourishment. This soul is
doing too little or inactive.
Rational soul or
human life
It has faculty of
reason and thinking.
Continued……..
Animative soul or Animal
life
It represents the other
extreme i.e. too much anger
and hostility. It has faculties
of nutrition, perception,
desires and power of
locomotion.
Aristotle illustrates the idea of soul as an entity to be kept in balance. He
believed in three different aspects or levels of life or soul.

9. 9
When one uses reason to keep other two aspects in harmony,
he will be following the true path of design and purpose. This
ideal state is called ‘Golden Mean’ and is achieved through
education. Balance and order are the central to body, mind and
whole universe. Aristotle did not view body and mind in
opposition, Plato did. He viewed body as means which
receives data through sense perceptions. This data is
organized by reasoning in mind, which leads to achieve
universal principles.

10. 10
PRINCIPLE # 5:
Matter and idea are two aspects of the same thing. Matter has
form and formless matter does not exist. Union of form and
matter gives concrete reality to things. This union is further
illustrated by Aristotle’s conception of four causes, which
helps in understanding the nature of things:-
Continued……..

11. 11
Material cause
(that which
composes a thing)
describes the
material out of
which something is
composed of.
Final cause
(the end and good of
a thing)
is that for the sake
of which a thing
exists or is done,
including both
purposeful and
instrumental actions
and activities.
Continued……..
Efficient cause
(the source from which
movement or rest
comes)
is that from which the
change or the ending of
the change first starts. It
identifies what is
changed and so suggests
all sorts of agents,
nonliving or living,
acting as the sources
of change or
movement or rest.
NATURE OF THINGS
Formal cause
(the form or the
model of things)
tells us what a
thing is? Anything
is determined by
its definition, form,
pattern, essence,
whole, synthesis or
archetype

12. 12
The efficient cause, the formal cause and the final cause
coincides in the concept of “form”. Hence form is propelling,
organizing and final principle of becoming. God is defined as
the first efficient cause underlying all existence (Prime mover
who is himself unmoved) but is He Himself unmoved by
another cause which might be presumed as being prior to him?

13. 13
PRINCIPLE # 6:
Aristotle believes that matter is always in process and moving to
some end. This is similar as the modern view of evolution and idea
of open-ended universe. The difference here is that universe
according to him is open-ended to a certain point. There is an
ultimate reality to be the power and creator that controlled the
process of matter.
To know about the ultimate reality he developed logical method
called “Syllogism”. It is the method of testing the truth of
statements based on deductive reasoning.

14. 14
PRINCIPLE # 7:
Aristotle believes in happiness as the chief good,
which depends on virtues and well-ordered soul. To
achieve it one needs to develop habits of virtue
through education.

15. 15
THANK YOU