Exam 10: Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi: Virtue in Ancient China

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Plato and Aristotle both addressed the problem of the criterion, which is the question of how we can know what is true or have knowledge about the world.

Plato's answer to the problem of the criterion is found in his theory of Forms. According to Plato, true knowledge comes from the realm of the Forms, which are perfect, unchanging, and eternal ideals that exist beyond the physical world. Through philosophical inquiry and dialectic, individuals can come to understand these Forms and gain true knowledge. For Plato, the problem of the criterion is solved by turning away from the imperfect world of appearances and seeking knowledge of the Forms.

Aristotle, on the other hand, approached the problem of the criterion through his theory of epistemology. He argued that knowledge comes from empirical observation and experience of the physical world. According to Aristotle, true knowledge is gained through the use of the senses and rational inquiry. He believed that by carefully observing and analyzing the world around us, we can come to know the truth about it.

In conclusion, both Plato and Aristotle offered answers to the problem of the criterion. Plato's solution involved turning towards the realm of the Forms, while Aristotle's solution focused on empirical observation and rational inquiry. Their differing approaches reflect their broader philosophical differences, but both sought to address the fundamental question of how we can know what is true.

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Suppose we claim to know something; call it P. We can be asked about the criterion or standard by which we decide that P is something we know. Either that criterion is something we claim to know or it is not. If we do not claim to know it, the proper response is to suspend judgment. If we do claim to know it, we can be asked by what criterion we know it. And the question repeats itself. This iteration will either go in a circle and come back to something earlier (in which case we should suspend judgment), or it will go on forever in an infinite regress (in which case we should suspend judgment). In any case, the correct response is to suspend judgment, to make no claims to know what is true.