Final answer:
Aristotle views the concept of 'good' as that which fulfills its purpose or function effectively, such as a sharp knife being 'good' because it cuts well. Truth, for him, is a statement that accurately corresponds with reality. His approach to understanding 'good' is observant and empirical, contrasting Plato's notions of transcendent forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle's view of "good" is multifaceted and not easily reducible to a single form. He diverges from Plato, focusing instead on the natural, observable world and what can be discerned through particular instances. According to Aristotle, something is good when it fulfills its function or purpose well. For instance, a knife is good if it cuts efficiently, as cutting is its function, thereby exhibiting excellence or virtue. This extends to living organisms, wherein moving from a state of potentiality to actuality is indicative of achieving their "good". Aristotle further identifies the plurality of goods through his explanation of the three kinds of friendships: utility, pleasure, and virtuous friendships, the latter contributing most to human flourishing.
Concerning statements of truth, Aristotle posits that a statement is true if it asserts what is indeed the case, such as "Dogs are mammals" being true because dogs are, in fact, mammals. This correlates to his understanding of goodness, where the actuality of an object's function relates to its good.
Critical thinking and application of evidence in reasoning, like Plato's assertion regarding the idea of good in the realm of knowledge, are fundamental in philosophical inquiry, similar to Aristotle’s empirical approach to understanding concepts like "good."