Plato and Aristotle, contest and temporary reconciliation
pp. 334-354
in: , The posthumous life of Plato, Berlin, Springer, 1977Abstract
Aristotle's philosophy with its logic, metaphysics and its doctrine of nature formed an important part of that general view of the world, which Thomas Aquinas expounded in didactic form and Dante in the verses of his poetry, and contributed thus to the cohesion of the Christian system. This general view also included Plato's philosophy, although its influence was more of a negative kind, as a factor which was independent on Aristotle's authority and at times opposed it, and had thus a liberating effect from the cult of Aristotle's philosophy which was at times even despotic. It might have seemed that the old controversy about Plato and Aristotle had been solved and that it was finally settled that it was Aristotle who approached more nearly to the Christian truth. This might have appeared to be tbe case at least in the Western world. Aristotle in view of his systematisation was also better fitted for the teaching of philosophy in schools. The syllabus of studies could easily decree for instance "docetur Ethica Aristotelis". Against this it was hardly possible to put the reading of some of Plato's dialogues.