Though Aristotle is influenced by his master Plato, under whom he spent some crucial period of his life, yet he is not a blind follower of Plato. He criticizes Plato on a number of points. The significant points of differences between Plato and Aristotle are as follows:
Firstly, while Plato is an idealist and radical, Aristotle is realist and conservative. Aristotle stood for the idea of “individual self-sufficiency, unlike the philosophical absolution of Plato. Greatly influenced by scientific profession of his father Aristotle remains the first scientist.
Secondly, Aristotle dubs Plato’s scheme of ideal state and rule by philosopher king as neglecting the common experience of changes. While Plato wanted to build new institutions, Aristotle was interested in retaining the existing institutions.
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Thirdly, Against the Platonic predisposition with the ideal of unity in the society, Aristotle hints that there exists diversity in society. He is against Plato’s scheme of functional specialisation and holds that instead of creating unity, it would lead to disunity.
Fourthly, Plato’s envision a scheme of communism to achieve the idea of justice. But, Aristotle is against communism of wives and property. Instead he believes that it is natural for human beings to own property and marry. Moreover, they are essential for fullest development of human being.
Fifthly, Aristotle does not pin faith in the rule of philosopher king. Rather, he upholds the primacy of law.
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Sixthly, Aristotle’s study of 158 constitutions was a pragmatic one. Through it he outlined a scheme for classification of government and sketched the relation between rulers and ruled. But, Plato leaves the administration entirely in the hands of philosopher king without defining the relation between rulers and the ruled.
Aristotle, the ablest of Plato’s disciples, is the fierce critic of his own teacher. However, in some of his criticisms, Aristotle mistakenly understands Plato.
For, every theorist’s philosophical predicaments are influenced by the assumption with which he starts and the kind of problems that he thinks for intellectual enquiry.