Comparing Aristotle's 'Timaeus And' On The Heavens
“Our World is solitary”
Introduction
This essay aims to address different conceptions of two authors on the composition of this world. The chosen articles for analysis and comparison are Timaeus by Plato and On the Heavens by Aristotle.
Discussion
Stance of Author on World and its creation
Aristotle presents a concrete statement backed by a number of arguments in his article On the Heavens. He suggests that “there cannot be more than one world” (Artistotle, n.d., p. 68). In order to support his stance about the regularities and patterns of his description of the world, he argues that movement of all the bodies is natural without any constraints, however if a body is forced to move other than its natural movement, we cannot call it natural, it would be the opposite of natural (Aristotle, n.d., p. 71). He further puts that all the worlds must comprise of similar bodies and they must have similar movements, their movements except for the natural motions are enforced movements hence if there are bodies which have similar names but their traits are not the same then their world cannot be called world except for just by name (Aristotle, n.d., p. 71). He emphasizes that there can be only one center and one circumference …show more content…
thus there cannot be two worlds.
Plato presents the similar stance on there being only one world; however he begins his discussion by questioning the reason of this world’s creation. His argument begins with praising the creator where he is of the view that God is good and he created the world because he wanted goodness and fairness to prevail (Plato, n.d., p. 9) and everything which is present in this world is here for a reason (Plato, n.d., p. 8). He argues that since the creator wanted this world to be perfect and solitary, he just created one world and there is no other copy of this world anywhere.
Ideas about uniformity and necessary objects
Aristotle tries to explain that if the relationship of particles to their world and another world are same, there is no possibility for them to behave differently in the world outside their own. Wherever they are, their traits and movements will remain the same hence this argument also contributes to his stance of having one world and that the world is unique (Aristotle, n.d. p. 75).
Plato discusses that there are four key elements to the formation of this world which include earth, fire, air and water and that every element has a proportion and are bound to each other (Plato, n.d. p. 9). He further suggests that God planned and created the world and then created perfect bodies in which he put soul and then he created universe which moves within a circle (Plato, n.d., p. 10).
Motion
With respect to the role of motion, Aristotle argues that each particle is assigned a motion and they move accordingly and if motions are same, the elements also stay the same no matter where they are.
He argues that motions are limited and pre-defined and that the starting point of a motion for any particle is different from the end point or the goal (Aristotle, n.d. p. 77). Plato discusses the motions of inner circle and outer circle, he argues that God has made 6 divisions within the inner motion and 7 unequal circles were created to move in opposite directions; he argues that Sun, Mercury and Venus move with equal swiftness whereas the remaining four circles which include Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and Moon move with unequal swiftness (Plato, n.d. p.
11).
Structure and Presentation
Aristotle presents interlinked arguments to support his stance of there being only one world and he presents various examples as evidence against each of the evidences that he has presented in his research. His arguments are clear and precise and the reader can easily interpret their meaning and relate it to his stance whereas Plato’s argument is very explanatory and detailed where he has not touched just one dimension of the world but all. From the reason of creation to the phenomena of movement, Plato has discussed everything in detail. Both the readings are interesting and are able to convince the reader however Plato’s article is more engaging and because it explains all the dimensions including the solar system, our planet, the static objects, time, and the phenomena of body and soul which keep the reader engaged and convinced.
Conclusion
To sum up the discussion, the arguments presented by both the authors provide brief and clear evidence of our world being solitary.
Introduction
This essay aims to address different conceptions of two authors on the composition of this world. The chosen articles for analysis and comparison are Timaeus by Plato and On the Heavens by Aristotle.
Discussion
Stance of Author on World and its creation
Aristotle presents a concrete statement backed by a number of arguments in his article On the Heavens. He suggests that “there cannot be more than one world” (Artistotle, n.d., p. 68). In order to support his stance about the regularities and patterns of his description of the world, he argues that movement of all the bodies is natural without any constraints, however if a body is forced to move other than its natural movement, we cannot call it natural, it would be the opposite of natural (Aristotle, n.d., p. 71). He further puts that all the worlds must comprise of similar bodies and they must have similar movements, their movements except for the natural motions are enforced movements hence if there are bodies which have similar names but their traits are not the same then their world cannot be called world except for just by name (Aristotle, n.d., p. 71). He emphasizes that there can be only one center and one circumference …show more content…
thus there cannot be two worlds.
Plato presents the similar stance on there being only one world; however he begins his discussion by questioning the reason of this world’s creation. His argument begins with praising the creator where he is of the view that God is good and he created the world because he wanted goodness and fairness to prevail (Plato, n.d., p. 9) and everything which is present in this world is here for a reason (Plato, n.d., p. 8). He argues that since the creator wanted this world to be perfect and solitary, he just created one world and there is no other copy of this world anywhere.
Ideas about uniformity and necessary objects
Aristotle tries to explain that if the relationship of particles to their world and another world are same, there is no possibility for them to behave differently in the world outside their own. Wherever they are, their traits and movements will remain the same hence this argument also contributes to his stance of having one world and that the world is unique (Aristotle, n.d. p. 75).
Plato discusses that there are four key elements to the formation of this world which include earth, fire, air and water and that every element has a proportion and are bound to each other (Plato, n.d. p. 9). He further suggests that God planned and created the world and then created perfect bodies in which he put soul and then he created universe which moves within a circle (Plato, n.d., p. 10).
Motion
With respect to the role of motion, Aristotle argues that each particle is assigned a motion and they move accordingly and if motions are same, the elements also stay the same no matter where they are.
He argues that motions are limited and pre-defined and that the starting point of a motion for any particle is different from the end point or the goal (Aristotle, n.d. p. 77). Plato discusses the motions of inner circle and outer circle, he argues that God has made 6 divisions within the inner motion and 7 unequal circles were created to move in opposite directions; he argues that Sun, Mercury and Venus move with equal swiftness whereas the remaining four circles which include Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and Moon move with unequal swiftness (Plato, n.d. p.
11).
Structure and Presentation
Aristotle presents interlinked arguments to support his stance of there being only one world and he presents various examples as evidence against each of the evidences that he has presented in his research. His arguments are clear and precise and the reader can easily interpret their meaning and relate it to his stance whereas Plato’s argument is very explanatory and detailed where he has not touched just one dimension of the world but all. From the reason of creation to the phenomena of movement, Plato has discussed everything in detail. Both the readings are interesting and are able to convince the reader however Plato’s article is more engaging and because it explains all the dimensions including the solar system, our planet, the static objects, time, and the phenomena of body and soul which keep the reader engaged and convinced.
Conclusion
To sum up the discussion, the arguments presented by both the authors provide brief and clear evidence of our world being solitary.