Be Yourself: Why Aristotle Was Right and Plato Was Wrong

Jeroen Seynhaeve 2024-09-26

Life is full of dilemmas. We’re constantly being pulled in different directions. One common struggle is this: on the one hand, we want to become the best version of ourselves. On the other, we feel pressure to fit in with society’s expectations and rules. Most of the time, it’s not too hard to balance the two. But what happens when they clash? Which side should win?

I believe the answer lies in the philosophy of Aristotle, one of the great thinkers of ancient Greece. He’s part of a trio of famous philosophers that includes Socrates and Plato, both of whom came before him. What makes Aristotle interesting is that many of his ideas challenge Plato’s views.

Let me explain.

Plato had a dualistic view of the world. He believed that there are two separate realities: the physical world we can see and touch, and a “world of ideas” or “forms.” According to Plato, if we want to become good people or the best version of ourselves, we need to look to this world of perfect ideas. It’s as if there’s a perfect model of what a good person is, and we should try to copy it. The key idea here is that these perfect forms are separate from the messy, everyday world we live in. They are perfect, and therefore unrealistic. Aspiring to become them is a eternally frustrating endeavour …

Aristotle had a different view. He argued that ideas aren’t floating around in a separate world – they’re built into the things around us, including ourselves. Imagine each of us has a blueprint, unique to who we are. Aristotle believed that becoming your best self means understanding and developing that blueprint, rather than trying to fit into someone else’s design, or into some abstract and perfect idea. Today, we might think of this as something like our DNA. Instead of chasing some perfect ideal that exists outside of us, we should focus on developing the potential that’s already inside us.

Of course, some traits are shared by many people, but others are unique to each of us. These unique traits define who we are and set us apart from others. And here’s the crucial point: it wouldn’t make sense for me to try to develop qualities that aren’t part of my nature, just because they happen to be part of someone else’s.

Some people might argue that the “self” isn’t a real thing, that we are just shaped by outside influences – our environment, society, family, and so on. But I disagree. Just as the damage done to a house by weather or time doesn’t change the original plan the architect designed, the external pressures we face in life don’t change who we are deep down. An olive tree is still an olive tree, even if you strip away its leaves or cut off its branches. In the same way, our core self remains, no matter what challenges we face.

Aristotle’s philosophy is all about purpose. He believed that everything in life has a purpose, or what he called a “telos.” For Aristotle, our purpose isn’t something external – it’s something we carry inside ourselves. Our job is to find that purpose and fully develop it – excel in it, becoming the best version of who we’re meant to be.

Of course, discovering and developing our true selves is a lifelong process. Throughout life, we experiment with different paths, make mistakes, and try new things. But over time, our essential nature becomes clearer. By following Aristotle’s advice to look inward and nurture the unique blueprint within each of us, we can become our best, most authentic selves.