Comparison and Contrast of Plato and Aristotle: The Allegory of the Cave and Nicomachean Ethics

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BIG IDEAS
The fact cannot be denied that the ideas of the past are crucial for the current thinking.
Although, in the present times some of the ancient theories and information may seem obsolete,
it is on the basis of these ancient theories, the modern theories have developed (Katz, Lazarsfeld,
and Elmo). Therefore, the contribution of the great thinkers cannot be ignored. The great thinkers
have given the world ways to look at the world from different perception and even develop their
perception on the basis of various factors. Two of the great thinkers still studied for their relevant
work are Plato and Aristotle. The essay aims to discuss the two thinkers and conduct a
comparison and contrast between the two thinkers. In order to compare and contrast between the
two thinkers, two of their popular work will be considered, The Allegory of the Cave and
Nicomachean Ethics.
Aristotle and Plato were philosophers in ancient Greece who studies several aspects of
life including matters of science, politics, ethics and more. Although many of the Plato’ works
only managed to survive the centuries, Aristotle’s contributions have been considered more
influential. Also, both of the philosopher’s works continue to have great historical value even
though they are considered less theoretically valuable in the contemporary times.

The Allegory of the cave is an allegory where the journey of mind is evaluated from darkness to
light. The word ‘cave’ is used in the allegory as the world of five senses that people acquire
through opinions (Blenkinsop and Beeman). These opinions are influences of others and their
influenced opinions. Person becomes free from the cave, individuals gets on the path of constant
upward path through the means of intellect, which is not based on persuasion of the senses. Plato
compares ordinary human existence to those prisoners who are chained in a cave. The chained
prisoners who reside in a cave do not have any other option but to be guided by their senses.
Their eyes are fixed on the wall and they are unable to move their head or body to any direction.
There is a large fire is behind these prisonsin between the fire and prisoners are a walkaway. In
the walkway various puppets and marionettes move which the prisoners used to observe. These
figures casts shadows that amongst the wall where the prisoners’ eyes would get locked. Also,
behind the cave is a road where people are walking, talking and playing. The noises from the
road were perceived to be noises from the shadows as per the prisoners. One day, one prisoner
escape from the cave and become exposed to the real world. It is then he realized that the all the
perception that he made by looking at the wall and the shadows are wrong. These were the
knowledge gained from the senses until escaped from the cave and realized that his perception
that was made on his sensory knowledge (Ng and Sheehan).
One of the best known works of Aristotle is the Nicomachean ethics. The work certainly
plays an important role in defining Aristotle’s main ethics in ten books which are understood
mainly through notes from his lectures at the Lyceum. These theories are based on morale and
human practices that help in achieving the goals in life. According to Aristotle, the main aim of
human life is to be happy. The book is considered as a philosophical inquiry to the nature of
good life that can be experienced by human being. Aristotle presents his views in regard to