Sociology

It is generally believed that no man can rightly claim absolute original thinking since knowledge is often acquired from past thinkers. Occasionally however a great mind forms a great authenticthought. Unlike other thinkers who established their system of logic in a vacuum of information, Aristotle was apparently the sole originator of the system of logic ascribed to him. His logic andreasoning guided others throughout history in their investigation of truth. He did not derived his logic from Plato who came before him though Platos influence in terms of inquiry was considerable. ClearlyAristotles unique reasoning were based upon intricate observations of what is self evident and undeniable. If Plato formulated most of the basic questions and inquiries, it was Aristotle who laid foundation for most of the answers.  

If Plato was into mysticism in terms of creation, Aristotle was into reason. Aristotles basic premise is that mans consciousness is to perceive and not to create reality. Mind, according to him with thehelp of sensory material, is the only tool for knowledge. He maintains that there is only one reality the things man perceived by means of physical senses. The physical world according to Aristotle is notcontrolled by a divine dimension but rather the world is a self sufficient realm open to the understanding of men. Knowledge, he claims, is based from the data of sense experience.

Thereforeknowledge must be formulated objectively and it must be self evident. Apparently Aristotle triggered the humanity to be rational beings since men learned to depend on the capacity of their minds. The birth of science, the structure of language, the creation of government and so on are somehow the result of Aristotles influence.   Even his ideas on how to live life here on earth are all based from logic. For Aristotle, mind and logic should be used to achieve happiness and personal fulfillment here on earth. Happiness for himmust be self evident. He believes in the capacity of men who can deal with reality, who can live happily and who can achieve values. For him, logic is the instrument so men can come to know anythingspecially of the things that will make him happy and satisfied. Happiness for Aristotle is a choice, and it starts within. It is not something that happens or comes to a person from without rather,happiness is rooted in human choices. Human choices according to Aristotle stem from virtues. The ability to reason or to know and to contemplate the truth will make a person acquire virtue. Since man is gifted with rational soul, then a  man s highest aim is the activity of the soul in conformity with reason  (Maher). Aristotle motivates people to seek the truth that comes from the right virtue ofreasoning. Although man is not born virtuous, he is born with senses, and senses must be used and utilized for a human person to learn. According to Aristotle, learning takes time. Thus, the acquired virtue should be practiced habitually. After several years of learning, Aristotle claims that a person who lives a virtuous life habitually will achieve and complete a perfect life. A good man is one whoreasons well and eventually chooses well. Aristotle acknowledges men s desire to be happy according to the satisfaction of senses so as long as it will not contradict virtue. As Aristotle believes that the souldoes not survive after death, people should strive to be happy while they are still alive. If human reasoning for Plato is rooted from spiritual element, Aristotle believed that human reasoning must bederived based from the evidences of sensory experience.  

His intricate way of observing actually made him explore and contribute other sciences. He laid his reasoning through observation and through believing into mans capacity. Since he did not believe in evolution of man but as a careful observant of nature, he separated living organisms according to their unique characteristics. Aside from classifying, he dissected animals and study their habits. Apparently Aristotle laid the foundation of most of the sciences specifically in the area of biology. Reasoning for him should apparently be justified by senses, thus logic.  

It is very evident why Aristotle is coined as the Father of Logic. His writings, his reasonings and his discoveries are all self evident and undeniable. People after Aristotle were encouraged to use selfevident reasoning and logic to live life here on earth. He always thought that knowledge from the senses is more important than knowledge based from divine elements. For him, it is better to trustthe knowledge acquired from the senses since it will always be self evident and undeniable, than to trust knowledge from intuition. Knowledge from intuition can either be true or false, thus not pure.