Difference Between Plato And Aristotle

Plato (427-347 B.C.) and Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) Plato and Aristotle were different in their philosophical approaches Aristotle being the pragmatist who dealt with the measurable and concrete, while Plato dealt with the world (two worlds) of concepts and ideas. The aim of this short essay is, therefore, an attempt to explore, and highlight the difference and relevance, if any, of Aristotelian ethical theory, and Platonism ethical theory on and to the modern-day issues of “Social Justice”. There are many “Issues Facing America” today, Social Justice or should we say “social injustice”, is the main issue that concern individuals in every facet of life, the aim of this short essay is, therefore, an attempt to explore, and highlight the difference

The problem is that civil law can itself be unjust in the sense of being unfair to some, so that we need to consider special justice as a function of fairness. Although Aristotle believed that, citizens should obey such law (social justice), in order to be just; he was a pragmatist, who dealt with the measurable and concrete equally and like all moral virtues, for Aristotle, justice is a rational mean between bad extremes, the “golden mean”. “The “mean” of justice lies between the vices of getting too (extreme end), much and getting too little (deficient end), relative to what one deserves, these being two opposite types of injustice, one of “disproportionate excess,” the other of disproportionate “deficiency”. Aristotle explains the origin, nature and development of virtues which are essential for achieving the ultimate goal of life. Aristotle only means that virtue is in between the two vices. Different degrees of virtues are needed for different situations. Knowing exactly what is appropriate in a given situation is difficult and that is why we need a long moral training (Waterman Lecture Notes U 4 Lesson 10-12 and Nicomachean, pp. 67-74, 76; 1129a-1132b,