Aristotle Essay, Research Paper

Aristotle (b. 384 – d. 322 BC), was a Greek

philosopher, logician, and scientist. Along with his teacher

Plato, Aristotle is generally regarded as one of the most

influential ancient thinkers in a number of philosophical

fields, including political theory. Aristotle?s? writing

reflects his time, background and beliefs.

Aristotle was born at Stagira, in Macedonia. His

father, Nichomacus, was the personal physician to the King

of Macedonia, Amyntas. At the age of seventeen, Aristotle

left for Athens to study at Plato?s Academy. He studied at

the Academy for about twenty years, up until Plato?s death.

Plato?s death sent Aristotle to a city in Asia Minor, called

Assos, where his friend, Hermias was ruler(Encarta). It was

in Assos where Aristotle met, Pythias, who is described as

either a niece or daughter of Hermias, who Aristotle married

after the murder of Hermias, by the Persians. Aristotle then

went to Pella, the capitol of Macedonia, where he became the

tutor for the king?s son, Alexander, who later became

Alexander the Great. When Alexander became King, Aristotle

went to Athens where he began to lecture at the Lyceum. He

lectured while walking about in one of its covered walkways,

earning him the nickname Peripatetic?, which means walking

about.

Aristotle lectured and directed the Lyceum for twelve

years, producing during this time the lecture notes which

now form his works. Only a small amount of Aristotle?s works

have survived. The writings which did survive like:

?Metaphysics,.? which were his writings on the nature,

scope, and properties of being; and ?Physics,? his writings

on astronomy, meteorology, plants, and animals, these

writings have changed the way we think and live.

Aristotle?s works encompassed all the major areas of

thought: logic, science, metaphysics, ethics, and politics.

He developed a new, non-Platonic theory of form, created a

system of deductive reasoning for universal and existential

statements, produced a theory of the cosmos, matter, life,

and mind, and theorized about the relationship between

ethics and politics and the nature of the good life(Young

Students Encyclopedia). His system rival Plato?s for the

next 2000 years.

Aristotle was a firm believer that philosophy came from

wonder, and that knowledge came from experience. He had a

wealth of knowledge, from many experience; if he was correct

about philosophy coming from wonder, he would have had to

wonder quite a bit. Aristotle was a genius, this is evident

in his writings, because the ideas and concepts he proposed

in his writing were ahead of his time. Aristotle learned

from the best and taught the best so his ideas and thoughts

were always being challenged, which made him thrive for

knowledge. Aristotle is consider to be the one of best if

not the best philosophers ever, his ideas reflect the

title.

Aristotle’s system of philosophy was never as

influential in ancient times as Plato’s. Indeed,

Aristotle’s works may not have been published for some

centuries after his death. After the fall of Rome, his work

was largely lost to Europe, while Plato?s were saved,

Aristotle?s works still played a vital role in our society?s

evolution. Aristotle?s writing were so ahead of his time,

they made people question his sanity. Though, during that

period of time he could have been labeled as a nut he is now

labeled as one of the most influential philosophers of all

time.