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. Aristotles 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 Platos Academy. He studied at
the Academy for about twenty years, up until Platos death.
Platos 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 kings 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 Aristotles 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.
Aristotles 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 Platos 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 Platos were saved,
Aristotles works still played a vital role in our societys
evolution. Aristotles 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.
Mathematics
