Aristotle stands as a colossal figure in history, shaping the course of Western thought for over two thousand years. As a student of Plato and a teacher of kings, he explored everything from biology and ethics to poetry and politics. Unlike his predecessors who looked to the heavens for answers, he grounded his philosophy in the observation of the natural world. Furthermore, his rigorous method of logic laid the foundation for the scientific method we use today. Prepare to examine the life of the man who knew everything.
Aristotle
Aristotle tutored Alexander the Great when the conqueror was just a teenager. King Philip II of Macedon hired the philosopher to teach his son literature, science, and politics. Consequently, this mentorship influenced Alexander’s future leadership style and his respect for Greek culture during his conquests.
He founded his own school called the Lyceum in Athens. Unlike Plato’s Academy, which focused on abstract mathematics, the Lyceum encouraged research into the natural world. Furthermore, the school featured a library and a museum, making it one of the first true research institutes in history.
Uniquely, he liked to walk while he taught his students. People called his followers “Peripatetics,” which translates to “those who walk around.” Thus, his lectures often took place on the move rather than in a stagnant classroom setting.
He wrote an estimated 200 treatises, but only 31 have survived to the present day. These surviving works likely function as lecture notes rather than polished books intended for publication. Therefore, the dense style of his writing probably reflects the concise summaries he used for teaching.
Aristotle fled Athens to avoid the same fate as Socrates. When anti-Macedonian sentiment rose in the city after Alexander died, he left to prevent the Athenians from “sinning twice against philosophy.” Consequently, he died in exile on the island of Euboea a year later.
He mistakenly believed that the heart served as the center of intelligence. While he recognized the brain’s cooling function for the blood, he argued that the heart controlled sensation and movement. Philosophers and doctors debated this incorrect theory for centuries.
Remarkably, he classified over 500 different species of animals. He dissected sea creatures and studied their anatomy in detail, noting the difference between whales and fish. As a result, his biological classification system remained the standard for nearly two thousand years until Linnaeus updated it.
He argued that the Earth was a sphere based on physical evidence. He observed the circular shadow the Earth cast on the moon during an eclipse and noted that different stars became visible as travelers moved south. Thus, he proved the planet’s shape through observation long before space travel.
Plato nicknamed him “The Mind” of the Academy. Although he eventually disagreed with his teacher on key philosophical points, Plato respected his student’s intellect deeply. Nevertheless, Aristotle famously stated that while he loved Plato, he loved the truth more.
He invented the field of formal logic. He developed the syllogism, a form of reasoning where a conclusion follows necessarily from two premises. For example, “All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal.”
His work on ethics introduced the “Golden Mean.” He taught that virtue lies between two extremes of excess and deficiency. For instance, courage sits perfectly balanced between the extremes of cowardice and recklessness.
Surprisingly, he believed that heavy objects fall faster than lighter ones. This specific error in physics persisted until Galileo Galilei disproved it during the Renaissance. It serves as a reminder that even the greatest minds can make incorrect assumptions without proper experimentation.
He has a crater on the moon named after him. To honor his contributions to astronomy and physics, modern scientists designated a prominent impact crater “Aristoteles.” It sits near the edge of the Mare Frigoris, freezing his name in the cosmos he studied.
Medieval scholars simply referred to him as “The Philosopher.” His influence became so overwhelming during the Middle Ages that he needed no other name. St. Thomas Aquinas famously reconciled Aristotle’s philosophy with Christian theology, cementing his authority in Europe.
Finally, he likely had a lisp. Ancient biographers noted that he spoke with a lisp and had very thin legs and small eyes. Despite these physical traits, he commanded respect through the sheer power of his intellect and rhetoric.
