Aristotle was one of the most important Greek philosophers and scientists, better known as the teacher of Alexander the Great. He studied at Plato’s academy in Athens, and is considered an important figure in understanding and shaping the basis of Western philosophy. Famous for his writings on many different subjects, including physics, biology, logic, ethics and psychology, he is considered one of the most prominent and relevant figures of the ancient Greek world.
Historical Context
Historically, Aristotle lived during the decline of the Greek city-state. Ancient Greece was made up of numerous independent city-states, Athens being the most important. The city-states were based upon slave labor and women weren’t taken in consideration in …show more content…
At age 17, Aristotle was sent to Athens to be enrolled in Plato’s Academy. He spent 20 years as a student and teacher at the school, emerging with both a great respect and a good deal of criticism for his teacher’s theories. He was thought to be chosen for running the Academy after Plato’s death, as he was one of the most gifted students and his innovative methods of teaching were well-known and very appreciated. However, Plato’s nephew Speusippus received the job. Consequentially, Aristotle left Athens, and travelled to pursue his studies and research. In 343 B.C, Aristotle was gathered by King Philip II of Macedonia to tutor his son Alexander (successively known as Alexander the Great), and held this role for the next seven years, until Alexander arose to the throne and began his famous conquests and annexations. The two men, who established a bond throughout the years, remained in contact through letters. In those letters, Alexander asked for political and moral advice. During an expedition in Persia, Alexander writes to his tutor, seeking moral advice: “O my excellent preceptor and just minister, I inform you that I have found in the land of Persia men possessing sound judgement and powerful understanding, who are ambitious of bearing rule. Hence I have decided to put them all to death. What is your opinion in this matter?”. Aristotle …show more content…
There are, however, exceptions to this: for example, his works on biology and geology. Aristotle’s philosophy is still studied today, but his science is not. Although, his writings helped scientists, for instance, to reach a better understanding of how they’ve gotten ahold of the knowledge they already detained. Aristotle was considered to be ahead of his time, yet in his discussion of slavery from the Politics, he revealed himself as a man tied to his time and place: “Let us first speak of master and slave, looking to the needs of practical life and also seeking to attain some better theory of their relation than exists at present. […]Property is a part of the household, and the art of acquiring property is a part of the art of managing the household; for no man can live well, or indeed live at all, unless he be provided with necessaries And so, in the arrangement of the family, a slave is a living possession, and property a number of such instruments”. From this scripture, it’s clear that Aristotle lived in a world built by slavery, and he was not prone to question it. For several generations, Aristotle’s works were all but forgotten. The historian Strabo (63 B.D - 24 A.C) states they were stored for centuries in a mouldy cellar in Asia Minor, before their rediscovery in the first century B.C. Although, it is unlikely that these were the only
Historical Context
Historically, Aristotle lived during the decline of the Greek city-state. Ancient Greece was made up of numerous independent city-states, Athens being the most important. The city-states were based upon slave labor and women weren’t taken in consideration in …show more content…
At age 17, Aristotle was sent to Athens to be enrolled in Plato’s Academy. He spent 20 years as a student and teacher at the school, emerging with both a great respect and a good deal of criticism for his teacher’s theories. He was thought to be chosen for running the Academy after Plato’s death, as he was one of the most gifted students and his innovative methods of teaching were well-known and very appreciated. However, Plato’s nephew Speusippus received the job. Consequentially, Aristotle left Athens, and travelled to pursue his studies and research. In 343 B.C, Aristotle was gathered by King Philip II of Macedonia to tutor his son Alexander (successively known as Alexander the Great), and held this role for the next seven years, until Alexander arose to the throne and began his famous conquests and annexations. The two men, who established a bond throughout the years, remained in contact through letters. In those letters, Alexander asked for political and moral advice. During an expedition in Persia, Alexander writes to his tutor, seeking moral advice: “O my excellent preceptor and just minister, I inform you that I have found in the land of Persia men possessing sound judgement and powerful understanding, who are ambitious of bearing rule. Hence I have decided to put them all to death. What is your opinion in this matter?”. Aristotle …show more content…
There are, however, exceptions to this: for example, his works on biology and geology. Aristotle’s philosophy is still studied today, but his science is not. Although, his writings helped scientists, for instance, to reach a better understanding of how they’ve gotten ahold of the knowledge they already detained. Aristotle was considered to be ahead of his time, yet in his discussion of slavery from the Politics, he revealed himself as a man tied to his time and place: “Let us first speak of master and slave, looking to the needs of practical life and also seeking to attain some better theory of their relation than exists at present. […]Property is a part of the household, and the art of acquiring property is a part of the art of managing the household; for no man can live well, or indeed live at all, unless he be provided with necessaries And so, in the arrangement of the family, a slave is a living possession, and property a number of such instruments”. From this scripture, it’s clear that Aristotle lived in a world built by slavery, and he was not prone to question it. For several generations, Aristotle’s works were all but forgotten. The historian Strabo (63 B.D - 24 A.C) states they were stored for centuries in a mouldy cellar in Asia Minor, before their rediscovery in the first century B.C. Although, it is unlikely that these were the only