The books “Metaphysics” and “Nicomachean Ethics” were written or dictated by Aristotle around 330 BC. They condense his insight on the nature of reality and existence.
The key idea in those works is the acknowledgement that existence exists; that essential insight leads to grasping that the world is driven by causality, and that human beings can shape their own destiny.
The acknowledgement that existence exists means that we do not need esoteric arguments to understand reality. It means that do not we need to resort to superstition to guide our lives.
Prior philosophers had been reluctant to acknowledge the self-standing existence of the cosmos and of all tangible items. For example, Pythagoras (570-495 BC) had been a remarkable mathematician, but totally incapable of analysing facts without mystical explanations. He devoted large efforts to numerology, trying to find supernatural explanations in numbers.
Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality compared to Anaxagoras’
Until Aristotle, no one had developed a systematic approach for assessing facts and drawing conclusions. Anaxagoras (500-428 BC) and Democritus (460-370 BC) had developed theories about the particles that make the universe, but had not let go of mysticism completely.
Aristotle’s recognition that “existence exists” establishes the foundation of objective, empirical research, independent of any mystical influences.
Most importantly, Aristotle’s insight that “existence exists” refutes once and for all the “theory of the forms” developed by Plato (428-347 BC).
To explain the nature of reality and existence, Plato argued that the physical world we perceive is a reflection of an ideal, mystical world of pure abstractions (which he called “forms”).
Like all previous philosophers, Plato was unable to accept that “existence exists” and that you don’t need magical powers to analyse it and understand it.
Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality compared to Plato’s
To support his delusional theory of forms, Plato created one fantastical explanation after another; how do you figure out the nature of an object? By gaining access to the mythical world of forms. How do you know if something is true? By asking wise individuals who have special access to the world of forms.
Plato’s delusion was so profound that he called his mystical world of forms “the true reality” and called the physical reality in front of his eyes “a reflection.”
Aristotle put an end to Plato’s mysticism by encouraging his readers and students to observe facts and use their rationality to draw conclusions.
In his book “Categories,” Aristotle listed various factors that should be taken into account when assessing facts, but he was providing those categories as examples; the underlying logic is that you should use reason to assess facts, not mysticism.
Aristotle’s views and historical progress
Plato’s theory of the forms assumes that abstractions exist in a separate world. To grasp simple facts, Plato demands you to access a mystical world of perfect, eternal and universal ideas.
According to Plato, human beings cannot figure out on their own how things work, whether some behaviour is good or bad, or what profession to choose. To make those decisions, each of us is supposed to ask guidance from philosophers who do have access to the world of forms.
Aristotle’s crucial insight that existence exists did away with layers of nonsense accumulated by previous philosophers; now it is hard to appreciate how much we owe to Aristotle, but you can get an idea by looking at areas of the world that still driven by mysticism.
If you are interested in applying Aristotle’s ideas to solving today’s problems, I recommend you my book “The Philosophy of Builders.”
Related articles
Aristotle’s philosophy of logic
Happiness and Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality and existence
The role of causality in Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality and existence
Aristotle’s views on the nature of reality and existence
The three principles in Aristotle’s philosophy of mind and consciousness