The great trio of ancient Greek thinkers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle can be called the founders of philosophy as a science, even though their ideas were controversial.
Aristotle established a metaphysical perspective in which he operated with such terms as the soul, God, and the absolute. These terms are not used in modern psychology, but Aristotle laid the foundation for the scientific conflict that led to the emergence of science-based approaches.
In addition, Aristotle created a system of virtue that shaped modern ethics. Plato also appealed to metaphysical ideals, creating a system of hierarchy of levels. Plato postulated the existence of the sensuous world, which was unstable and temporary.
The thinker also developed the idea of objective idealism, the concept that many things in the world are comprehended rationally. Plato’s main contribution to psychology lies in the ideas of sensory cognition, which reflects the inner world of man.
Finally, Socrates’ ideas are among the most fundamental to philosophy. Socrates assumed that all individuals are inherently good, with anger formed on the basis of a lack of information.
According to Socrates, people should strive to know themselves through reflection and critical introspection. Socrates’ psychological contribution, therefore, is the possibility of knowing the individual and the need to work toward a better understanding of oneself.
- Plato’s, Aristotle’s, and Socrates’ Philosophical Ideas
- Socrates in Aristotle’s and Plato’s Works
- The Difference Between Socrates’s and Aristotle’s Prescriptions of Way of Life
- The Difference Between Plato and Aristotle’s Views
- The Happiness Concept in Aristotle’s Ethics
- Aristotle and Plato Works Comparison
- Plato and Aristotle Differences