Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi

ISSN: 2602-4969

AN EVALUATION ON THE VIEWS OF ARISTOTLE AND PLATO IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROBLEM OF DEFINITION


In logic, the subject of definition is explained through five universals. Genus, species, distinction, species distinction, and relation have played an important role in determining definition. In general, classical logicians divided definition into essence and correlative. In this sense, classical logicians used genus and distinction in obtaining the essential definition, and used the principle and general properties in making descriptions. Classical logicians pointed to the internal dimension of the defined object when making an essential definition, and to the external dimension of the object when making a description. In this context, the issue of definition has been the subject of study by many thinkers in the historical process. However, Aristotle was the first person to make a systematic or systematic explanation about definition. According to Aristotle, definition is what reveals the essence of something. In other words, according to him, the essential definition refers to the essence of the thing to be known. This can only be obtained from the proximate genus and proximate distinction of a thing. Therefore, according to Aristotle, the perfect and ideal definition corresponds to the essential definition.  Plato, on the other hand, took a different approach from Aristotle by using a descriptive language about definition. In his dialogues, Plato used a descriptive language when defining concepts such as ‘justice’, ‘state’, ‘goodness’ and ‘humanity’. Unlike Aristotle, Plato tried to explain something by emphasising its external characteristics while making a definition. Therefore, we can say that Aristotle and Plato put forward different views on definition. In this study, the ideas of the two philosophers are compared by considering the issue of definition in logic.


Keywords


Definition, Description, Logic, Aristotle, Platon

Author : Mehmet AYDIN
Number of pages: 141-150
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.29228/isorej.77601
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Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar ve Ulusal Eğitim Dergisi
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