Aristotle

Aristotle
Born	384 BCE
Died	322 BCE
Nationality	Macedonian (Ancient Greek)
Occupation	Philosopher; scientist; polymath
Known for	Logic; metaphysics; ethics; natural philosophy
Notable work	Nicomachean Ethics; Politics; Metaphysics; Organon

Aristotle (384–322 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath whose work shaped the development of Western philosophy and science for centuries. A student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristotle produced systematic writings across logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, biology, and physics.

Unlike Plato, Aristotle emphasized empirical observation and classification, seeking to understand the structure and causes of the natural and social world.

Early life and education

Aristotle was born in Stagira in Macedonia. His father served as a physician to the Macedonian royal court, which exposed Aristotle early to scientific and medical inquiry.

He moved to Athens as a young man to study at Plato’s Academy, where he remained for many years as a student and later as a lecturer.

Philosophical method

Aristotle developed a method that combined logical analysis with empirical observation. He argued that knowledge begins with sensory experience and proceeds through systematic reasoning.

This approach distinguished his work from purely abstract or idealist philosophies.

Logic

Aristotle is regarded as the founder of formal logic. His works collected in the Organon analyze syllogistic reasoning and principles of valid inference.

Aristotelian logic dominated logical theory for nearly two millennia.

Ethics

In ethics, Aristotle focused on character and virtue rather than rules or consequences. In the Nicomachean Ethics, he argued that human flourishing (eudaimonia) is achieved through the cultivation of virtue and practical wisdom.

Ethical excellence, in this view, arises from habitual action guided by reason.

Politics

Aristotle examined political organization as a natural extension of human social life. In Politics, he analyzed different forms of government and emphasized the role of law and civic participation.

He viewed the polis as essential for achieving the good life.

Natural philosophy

Aristotle conducted extensive studies of plants, animals, and physical phenomena. His biological works include detailed classifications based on observation.

Although later scientific developments revised many of his conclusions, his methodological emphasis on systematic inquiry was highly influential.

Later life

After leaving Athens, Aristotle served as tutor to Alexander the Great before founding his own school, the Lyceum. He continued teaching and writing until political circumstances forced him to leave Athens.

He died in 322 BCE.

Legacy

Aristotle’s influence spans philosophy, science, and education. His ideas shaped medieval scholarship and informed later developments in logic, ethics, and natural science.

Even where his conclusions were later revised, his methods and conceptual frameworks remain foundational to Western intellectual history.