The Archives of Aristotle
Written by Jolie Deal
The Early Years
Aristotle was born in 384 BC in Stagira, Chalcidice Greece, to Phaestis and Nicomachus. Nicomachus was a close friend and the physician to the king of Macedonia. Aristotle’s father played a minor, but significant role in Aristotle’s life. Because Nicomachus was a doctor, Aristotle grew up curious of nature and anatomy.
Education Aristotle grew up admiring many aspects of the human race.. Come 17, he went to Athens to study. His mentor, Plato, had a major effect in Aristotle’s life. Aristotle’s mentor died in 347 BC and only then did Aristotle leave.
Plato’s Academy & Influence Aristotle went to Plato’s academy to learn about philosophy and logical thinking from him. Aristotle stayed at the academy for twenty years. He stayed there as a student initially, then as a teacher. Plato’s academy was not like schools or learning facilities we have today. The academy had no classes. On specific subjects taught by specific teachers. It was more like a bunch of topics in one class. To test each other, the pupils participated and challenged each other in debates to prove their opinions, similar to public greek debates involving the city/polis. During the debates, students were encouraged to make up more questions and voice them.
Known for studying… Aristotle’s best known work that has been preserved is: •Orgnon (treaties on logic) •Rhetoric •Poetics •History of Animals •Metephysics •De Anima (physcology)
Lyceum (Peripatetic) Once Aristotle left Plato’s academy, He created his own school, called Lyceum. Although the Athenians called the school Peripatetic, which means to walk about. Aristotle made first great library collection and made a museum. In Lyceum, they dissected animals in order to study the habits of the animals, but the lack of proper instruments created false conclusions. Aristotle’s important contributions are: •Physics •Metaphysics •Rhetoric •Poetics •Logic •Defining/classifying the multiple branches of academic studies
Hello Hades Aristotle fled from Athens because he feared the Athenians might’ve killed him as they did Socrates. He fled to the island of Eubroes, in Chalcis Euboea. Aristotle stayed on the island until he died… which was the next year. He died in the year 322 BC. After this great loss, Aristotle’s writing was scattered and lost. In the early Middle Ages, the only known works in western Europe were parts of his writing on logic.
As you can see Aristotle had a huge impact on the ancient world. His teaching methods, his discoveries‌ Aristotle changed the world, one student at a time.