ARISTOTLE

GROUP 5
WHO IS ARISTOTLE?
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and
scientist, better known as the teacher of
Alexander the Great. He was a student of Plato
and is considered an important figure in
Western Philosophy. Famous for his writings
on physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater,
music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics,
government, ethics, biology, and zoology, he is
considered much ahead of his time. His
writings constitute the first comprehensive
system of Western philosophy which includes
views about morality and aesthetics, logic and
science, politics and metaphysics.
 This system became the supporting pillar of both Islamic and Christian
scholastic thought. It is even said that he was perhaps the last man who had
the knowledge of all the known fields at that time. His intellectual knowledge
ranged from every known field of science and arts of that era. His writing
includes work in physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, botany, psychology,
political theory, logic, metaphysics, history, literary theory and rhetoric.
 One of his greatest achievements was formulating a finished system also
known as Aristotelian syllogistic. His other significant contribution was
towards the development of zoology. It is true that Aristotles zoology is now
obsolete but his work and contribution was unchallenged till the 19th century.
His contribution towards almost all subjects on earth and its influence makes
him one of the most famous and top personalities of all time.
HIS CHILDHOOD AND EARLY LIFE
Aristotle was born in Stagira, Chalcidice, which is approximately 55km east of
Thessaloniki, in 384 B.C. His father Nicomachus named him Aristole, which
means the best purpose. His father served as a personal physician to King
Amyntas of Macedon.
 Though not much information is
available about his childhood,
sources throw light on the fact
that he spent time in the
Macedonian palace and from
here he connected with the
Macedonian monarchy.
 Being a physicians son, he was
inspired to his fathers scientific work
but didnt show much interest in
medicine.
When he turned 18, he shifted to
Athens to pursue his education at
Platos Academy. He left Athens
somewhere in 348-347 B.C, spending
almost 20 years in the city.
 The traditional stories say that he left Athens as he was displeased with
the Academys direction when Plato's nephew Speusippus took over the
control of the academy after Platos death but it is also said that he feared
anti-Macedonian sentiments and must have left before the death of Plato.
 Thereafter, he moved to the court of his
friend Hermias of Atarneus in Asia Minor
along with his friend Xenocrates. He then
travelled to the island of Lesbos
accompanied by Theophrastus where they
did in-depth analysis of zoology and botany
of the island.
In 343 B.C after the death of Hermias, Philip
II of Macedon invited him to become tutor
of his son, Alexander.
HIS CAREER

Aristole became the head of royal academy

of Marcedon. Here he became a tutor not
only to Alexander but gave lessons to two
other future kings - Cassander and Ptolemy
- as well. In his role as tutor to Alexander,
he encouraged him to conquer east.
 In 335 B.C he returned to Athens where he
established his own school named Lyceum.
For next twelve years he taught various
courses at his school.
 There came a time when the relationship of Alexander and Aristotle became
estranged. This was probably due to Alexanders relationship with Persia.
Though there is little evidence, yet many believed that Aristotle played a role
in Alexanders death.
After Alexanders death, anti-Macedonian sentiment in Athens flared. In 322
B.C Eurymedon the Hierophant castigated him for not holding the gods in
honor and Aristotle fled to Chalcis, his mothers family estate.
THOUGHTS & CONTRIBUTIONS

Aristotle is believed to have put together his thoughts during 335-323 B.C. He
wrote a number of dialogues in this period but unfortunately only fragments
of these pieces have survived which are in the form of treatise. These were
not intended for wide publication and were rather meant to be used for
lectures to students. Poetics, Metaphysics, Politics, Physics, De Anima and
Nicomachean Ethics are considered to be his most important treatise.
He not only studied almost every subject but also made noteworthy
contributions to many of them. Under physical science, Aristotle studied and
wrote on astronomy, anatomy, embryology, geology, geography, meteorology,
zoology and physics while in philosophy, he wrote on ethics, aesthetics
government, politics, metaphysics, economics, rhetoric, psychology and
theology. In addition to all the above, he also studied literature, poetry and
customs of various countries.
 Aristotle studied and wrote on numerous subjects
and topics but unfortunately only one third of his
original writings survived. The lost writings
include poetry, letters, dialogues and essays all
written in Platonic manner. Most of his literary
works are known to the world by the writing of
Diogenes Laertius and others.
He has been given credit for being the earliest
one to study formal logic.
 HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO PHILOSOPHY

Just like his teacher Plato, his philosophy also aims at universe but his ontology finds the
universal in particular things, thus his epistemology is based on the study of specific
phenomena and it rises to the knowledge of essence.
He also discussed how information can be drawn about objects through deduction and
inferences. It was his theory of deduction that was shaped into Syllogism by modern
philosophers. The pairs of propositions were termed as Contraries by him. Syllogism is
a logical argument in which the inference of the conclusion is drawn from two or more
other premises of a certain form. This was explained by him in his work Prior Analytics
where he defined the main components of reasoning through exclusive and inclusive
relationships. These were in later years shown through Venn Diagrams.
 His philosophy not just provided us with a system of reasoning but it was also
related to ethics. He had described a moral code of conduct what he
referred to as good living in Nichomachean Ethics.
He also talked about Practical Philosophy where he considered ethics to be a
part of practical rather than theoretical study. His work titled Politics, threw
light on the city. According to him city is a natural community. Man is by
nature a political animal is what was stated by him.
He has been given credit for being the earliest one to study formal logic. The
famous philosopher Kant said in his the Critique of Pure Reason that
Aristotles theory of logic formed the basis of deductive inference.
HIS MAJOR WORKS
Aristotle wrote around 200 works and most of them were in the form of notes and
drafts. These works comprise of dialogues, records of scientific observations and
systematic works. These works were looked after by his student Theophrastus and then
Neleus
His major works include Rhetoric, Eudemus (On the Soul), on philosophy, on Alexander,
on Sophistes, on justice, on wealth, on prayer and on education.
Poetics, Metaphysics, Politics, Physics, De Anima and Nicomachean Ethics are
considered to be his most important treatise.
Aristotles work Poetics comprised of two books - one was on tragedy and the other
on comedy.
HIS PERSONAL LIFE & LEGACY
During his stay in Asia Minor, Aristotle married Pythias, who is said to be the niece
or adoptive daughter of Hermias. A daughter was born to the couple whom they
named Pythias.
After the death of his wife Pythias, he tied the knot again with Herpyllis of Stageira
who bore him a son, whom he named after his father, Nicomachus.
According to the Suda (a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient
Mediterranean world), Aristotle had an erotic relationship with Palaephatus.
He breathed his last in 322 B.C in Euboea due to natural causes. He named
Antipater (his student) as the chief executor. He wrote a will in which he desired to
be buried next to his wife.
 EDUCATING THE MIND
WITHOUT EDUCATING THE HEART
IS NO EDUCATION AT ALL.
-ARISTOTLE
 Source: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/aristotle-116.php