Aristotle’s key insight on the nature of reality and existence

The books “Metaphysics” and “Nicomachean Ethics” were written or dictated by Aristotle around 330 BC. They condense his insight on the nature of reality and existence. The key idea in those works is the acknowledgement that #existence exists. That essential insight leads to grasping that the world is driven by causality, and that human beings can shape their own destiny. The acknowledgement that existence exists means that we do not need esoteric arguments to understand reality. It means that we do not need to resort to superstition to guide our lives. Prior philosophers had been reluctant to acknowledge the self-standing existence of the cosmos and of all tangible items. For example, #pythagoras (570-495 BC) had been a remarkable mathematician, but totally incapable of analysing facts without mystical explanations. He devoted large efforts to numerology, trying to find supernatural explanations in numbers. Until #aristotle , no one had developed a systematic approach for assessing facts and drawing conclusions. #anaxagoras (500-428 BC) and #democritus (460-370 BC) had developed theories about the particles that make the universe, but had not let go of mysticism completely. Aristotle’s recognition that “existence exists” establishes the foundation of objective, empirical research, independent of any mystical influences. Most importantly, Aristotle’s insight that “existence exists” refutes once and for all the “theory of the forms” developed by Plato (428-347 BC). To explain the nature of reality and existence, #plato argued that the physical world we perceive is a reflection of an ideal, mystical world of pure abstractions (which he called “forms”). Like all previous philosophers, Plato was unable to accept that “existence exists” and that you don’t need magical powers to analyse it and understand it. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/aristotles-key-insight-on-the-nature-of-reality-and-existence/