Plato and Aristotle, Two Key Distinctions

1 Theory of Forms                                                       

Plato: Everything in this world is a mere imitation of an ideal form that really exists in Eternity.                                                        

Aristotle: Form is a component of matter.                    

2 Eudemonia

Plato: We should seek eudemonia in the next life, in Eternity. This life and certainly this world impede our search for eudemonia.

Aristotle: We should seek eudemonia in this life as well as the next.

Raphael, The School of Athens (1511, detail)