Final answer:
Plato believed that a disproportion of elements in the material world causes corruption, as the material world is an imperfect representation of the perfect realm of forms. Disagreement arose from Aristotle, who questioned how immaterial forms could influence material entities. This philosophical debate on the nature of reality has significantly influenced metaphysics and scientific thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plato stated that a disproportion of elements could lead to a corruption of the world we live in. This concept is rooted in his Theory of the Ideal Forms, wherein the material world is seen as a mere representation, or mimesis, of a perfect, immutable realm of forms or ideas. According to Plato, imperfection comes from the substance of material entities, which is susceptible to decay and change, unlike the perfect, unchanging forms that exist in the ideal realm. Aristotle, on the other hand, proposed that substance is a composite of both matter and form. He introduced the causes, with the formal cause similar to an idea in a sculptor's mind, and the material cause being the substance, like marble for a sculpture. Plato's perspective inspired the search for underlying patterns or forms within the natural world, which notably influenced modern science and the understanding of the laws of nature.
The disagreement between Plato and Aristotle on the influence of forms on material entities is a significant discussion in the philosophy of metaphysics, dealing with the nature of reality and existence. Plato's hypothesis was that forms are the ultimate reality and they influence the material world, which is not capable of reaching the perfect state of the forms. Aristotle challenged this by asking how immaterial forms can cause changes to material things, given that forms lack matter. These debates have shaped our understanding of metaphysics and the philosophical study of the essence of things.