Aristotle

Born: 384 BCE
Died: 322 BCE

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath who made significant contributions to various fields, including philosophy, ethics, politics, metaphysics, biology, and many others. He was a student of Plato and a tutor to Alexander the Great. Aristotle's works have had a profound and lasting influence on Western thought. Here are key aspects of Aristotle's life and contributions:

Early Life and Education: Aristotle was born in 384 BCE in Stagira, a Greek colony in the northern part of what is now Greece. At the age of 17, he moved to Athens to study at Plato's Academy, where he remained for 20 years, absorbing Plato's teachings while developing his own ideas.

Tutor to Alexander the Great: Aristotle became the tutor to Alexander, the future conqueror and king when Alexander was 13 years old. During this time, Aristotle significantly impacted Alexander's education, fostering an interest in philosophy, science, and literature.

Philosophy:

• Metaphysics: Aristotle's work in metaphysics explores the nature of reality, being, and existence. He discussed the concepts of substance and causality.
• Epistemology: Aristotle made contributions to the study of knowledge, emphasising empirical observation and categorisation of phenomena.
• Ethics: In his Nicomachean Ethics and Eudemian Ethics, Aristotle explored the nature of virtue, ethics, and the pursuit of happiness. He introduced the concept of the "golden mean" as a guide to ethical behaviour.
• Politics: Aristotle's Politics is a seminal work on political philosophy, examining the nature of the state, citizenship, and the best forms of government. He categorised different types of governments and discussed the idea of the "polis" (city-state).

Biology and Natural Sciences: Aristotle made significant contributions to biology, zoology, and natural history. His work "Historia Animalium" documented his observations and classifications of various species. He developed a classification system for living organisms, categorising them based on their characteristics, and introduced the concept of a "scala naturae" or a "great chain of being."

Poetics: Aristotle's Poetics is a foundational work on literary theory, focusing on the principles of drama and poetry. He analysed the structure of tragedies and the elements that make them effective.

Legacy: Aristotle's works were preserved and studied throughout the Middle Ages, contributing significantly to medieval philosophy and theology. His emphasis on empirical observation and systematic classification laid the groundwork for the scientific method. Aristotle's ideas profoundly impacted later philosophers, including Thomas Aquinas and other Scholastics.

Death: Aristotle died in 322 BCE in Euboea, Greece, a year after leaving Athens following the death of Alexander the Great.