Aristotle and Sense Perception Ms . Campbell Feb. 8, 2011

1. Aristotle and Sense PerceptionMs. CampbellFeb. 8, 2011 “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” –Aristotle

2. Background • Born in 384 B.C.E. • From the northwestern edge of the Greek Empire in Stagira. • Father was a physician to King Amyntas of Macedonia.

3. Education • Came to Athens to study under Plato from age 18 to 37. • Known for classifying the branches of knowledge into categories, including: physics, psychology, poetics, logic, and rhetoric. • At the invitation of Phillip of Macedonia, Aristotle tutored young Alexander the Great from age 13 to 18, after returning home to Stagira around 348 B.C.E. • After Phillip dies and Alexander becomes king, Aristotle returns to Athens to found the Lycieum.

4. Aristotle’s Lycieum(morning: detailed discussion for advanced studentsevening: public discourses for all)

5. Later Years • Aristotle supposedly wrote around 150 treatises, but only 30 survive. • After Alexander’s death in 323 B.C.E., Athens quickly changed from pro-Macedonia to anti-Macedonia. • Aristotle fled so that “The Athenians might not have another opportunity of sinning against philosophy as they had already done in the person of Socrates.” • Aristotle died of a stomach illness a year into his exile in Chalcis in 322 B.C.E.

6. Influenced by and Influences… • Studied under Plato, though Aristotle disagreed with his master on several issues (including the theory of forms) • Plato used primarily deductive methods (using a priori knowledge), while Aristotle uses inductive (universal in the particular) and deductive. • Most of Aristotle’s influence can be seen in natural science (biology, zoology, botany), metaphysics, and the study of rhetoric.

7. Sense Perception • Sense perception is separate from reason. • Disagreed with Plato’s theory of forms (abstract universal entities can exist independent of the object themselves)—believes that forms are intrinsic to the object and cannot exist apart from it, so they must be studied together • Exception: in Art, Aristotle argues that there is an idealized universal form that artists attempt to capture • Sensory organs become what they perceive • Actuality/potentiality • SensusCommunisand “percepts” • No direct perception • Sense perception is the source of all knowledge.

8. Sources Cited • Anonymous. “Aristotle” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. February 6, 2011. <http://www.iep.utm.edu/aristotl/> • Anonymous. “Aristotle.” UC-Berkeley Department of History website. October 21, 2005. February 7, 2011. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/aristotle.html • Images: Google Images.

9. Critique? Questions? • This powerpoint was a bit wordy. Take this as a cue to cut yours down—better to add information verbally than overwhelm your audience. • Notice the multiple ways to engage your audience on the handout alone—graphic organizers, discussion questions, fill in the blank, etc. Students learn better when they’re actively doing something, so ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE. • Look at the handout—again, perhaps it’s a little too wordy. Try to separate information into useful headings and sub-headings for your audience. Also, try to keep your notes to one page—condense it to the most important info—your classmates don’t need an extensive minute-by-minute biography of your philosopher!