Author(s)

RuoNan Liu

Affiliation(s)

Keystone Academy, Beijing 101138, China.

Corresponding Author

RuoNan Liu

ABSTRACT

The modern consensus on the differences between Plato and Aristotle, two influential figures in Greek philosophy, is based on Raphael’s renowned artwork, The School of Athens. In the painting, Plato is depicted holding his Timaeus and pointing toward the heavens, while Aristotle is shown holding Nicomachean Ethics and pointing toward the Earth. Many scholars have offered symbolic interpretations, suggesting a divergence between the two philosophers regarding forms and idealism versus the empirical world. In simpler terms, Plato focused on logic and argumentation, while Aristotle focused on physics and experimentation. However, this essay speculates that more can be concluded by focusing on the specific books held by the two figures rather than their entire philosophical frameworks. This approach avoids generic comparisons suggesting the absence of love, beauty, and nurture in Aristotle’s work and instead concentrates on how Timaeus, a Platonic work about law and social order, is juxtaposed with Nicomachean Ethics, an Aristotelian guide to ethics and achieving success and happiness. Through this unique lens, the essay contributes to prior discussions comparing the two philosophers and investigates the details behind Raphael’s choice to depict these two books together. This essay does not offer a particular analysis of The School of Athens but uses this popular piece to provide a novel perspective on curating and solidifying conclusions about Plato and Aristotle. Therefore, any comments made about Raphael's celebrated artwork remain neutral. The essay concludes that the two books held by Aristotle and Plato contain details that oppose each other directly and indirectly. However, the larger picture is Plato’s theory of perfect forms versus Aristotle’s emphasis on natural science to justify the sources of knowledge or the creation of being.

KEYWORDS

Epistemology; Metaphysics; Reason; Form; Ethics; Causality

CITE THIS PAPER

RuoNan Liu. The School of Athens: an art-based comparison between Plato and Aristotle. Journal of Trends in Arts and Humanities. 2026, 3(1): 14-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/jtah3054.

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