Aristotelian Reality Part 3

 

Aristotelian Reality Part 3

As we discovered in another blog (Aristotelian Reality Part 1) Aristotle, a disciple of Plato, departed from his philosophical master’s teachings.  Plato believed that true reality consists of invisible thought-forms (which he called Forms) experienced by the enlightened philosopher.  Aristotle believed that true reality is visible and concrete and experienced through the experience of the five senses.  Plato’s reality is invisible.  Aristotle’s reality is visible. Plato’s logic is mystical.  Aristotle’s logic is practical and tangible. Plato’s logic is unconscious.  Aristotle’s logic is conscious. 

Somehow, both Realities are true, despite their antithetical qualities.  How can these two Realities be reconciled?  In the history of Christian thought Augustine (354-430 A.D) focused on Plato.  His theology reigned for approximately 800 years until Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) came along and focused on Aristotle.  (Aquinas’ dramatic change from Plato to Aristotle initiated the Renaissance and the Enlightenment Periods.)  Many aspects of Thomistic theology continue to today.

How can the mystical unconscious world of Plato and the scientific conscious world of Aristotle be reconciled?  Carl Jung taught that these two concepts must be held together in a delicate balance in the human psyche.  According to his psychotherapy, the whole, balanced individual is the Conscious individual who is open to the symbolic language of the Unconscious Mind (namely, dreams, religion, myth, legend, music, art, poetry, and more).  As noted earlier: the Unconscious Mind is the greater part of who we are, but the Conscious Mind is the supreme judge and interpreter of all experiences, both Conscious and Unconscious.  Jung called this delicate balance the Unus Mundus (Latin, “One World”), that is, the Union of Opposites into one primordial Whole.

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