Plato & Aristotle

Plato & Aristotle Page Draft

The Ancient Period

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Aristotle

Aristotle
Ancient Greek Philosopher
Born: 384 BC, Chalkidiki, Greece
Died: 322 BC, Chalcis, Greece
Education: Platonic Academy








Teachings

Potentialities, or rather, the potential of individuals are reached through action.  Character is the set of potentialities from which to choose; therefore, our character is developed through our actions.  Aristotle teaches that through this actualization of potentialities, we can find happiness.Aristotle believed these ideas about potentialities could form general principles, but one must also learn to become aware of the potentialities of the moment in order to know how to act.  Thus, Aristotle promoted action and practical wisdom (phronesis).  Action is necessary to actualize potential.

The Highest Argument.  Aristotle developed the ideas of what is now commonly known as ethos, pathos, and logos.  These are Greek words with very particular meaning, which we'll get to in a sec.  Each is a critical component to an effective and meaningful argument and presentation.  While each adds value to a presentation, all must be present in order to convey the highest argument or persuasive presentation.  Ethos is author credibility.  This is arguably the most important of the three and perhaps the hardest to gain and keep.  Much of one's own credibility comes without saying anything, while at the same time comes from how relatable the presenter is to his or her audience.  Pathos is passionate argument.  This is all about the emotional appeal to your audience.  Once one knows where you're coming from, they've got to feel what you are saying as if it is their own.  Logos is logical reasoning. Strangely enough, people seem to value logos less than ethos or pathos, but without it, any presentation is highly likely to fail.  Eventually, whatever decision I, as a listener, make needs to make sense to me.

Interaction.  Aristotle fully supports and draws attention to a first impression.  If it doesn't keep someone interested, then it doesn't matter how good the rest of the site is.  After the first impression, both the site and its users ought to have a constructive way to improve each other.

Development-tality.  Aristotle taught that our communication should develop in stages as the reader and the presenter also develop and come closer to their potential.  For instance, when one first visits the page, it is a high level perspective, but allows for one to get more granular.  Aristotle also believed repetition was an appropriate form of education for children while adults should be taught through opportunities to interpret and interact. 

Applications
For Aristotle, a good website would have the following elements:

1. Unified by our potentialities -- the website (more particularly the builders behind it) and the users have to have experiences that grant a fuller realization of our potential
2. Accessible through ethos, pathos, and logos and interaction -- viewers must be drawn in by what seem to resonate with them, then kept by being able to interact with the site and others.
3. Ongoing with a development-tality -- along with interaction, there must be levels of knowledge where one may continue to delve as long as they please.