Plato is one of the most renowned philosophers in history whose teachings have influenced a lot of modern philosophical thoughts. However, his student, Aristotle is likewise significant in the history of philosophy.

Aristotle was a student of Plato and later became a teacher himself. His contributions to various fields are widespread, including logic, ethics, biology, and politics. This article will examine the life of Aristotle, his works, and his philosophy.

Early Life of Aristotle

Aristotle was born in 384 BC in Stagira, a small town in ancient Greece. His father, Nicomachus, was a doctor to the Macedonian king, so Aristotle grew up in close proximity to the ideas and thoughts of the elites.

He was exposed to a lot of philosophical and scientific ideas from an early age, and his father’s position allowed him access to a lot of rare books and manuscripts. By the time Aristotle reached his teenage years, his mind was already set on studying philosophy and understanding the nature of the world.

Aristotle’s Time with Plato

Aristotle studied with Plato in Athens for about twenty years, from his men teenage years until he was in his thirties.

During this time, Aristotle grasped the intricacies of various philosophical schools of thought and developed his own ideas about a wide range of topics. Aristotle was impressed by Plato’s philosophical system, especially the theory of Forms, which argued that everything in the world had an ideal Form.

Nevertheless, Aristotle criticized Plato’s theory of Forms by saying that ideas were not the most fundamental aspects of reality but rather material objects like plants and animals.

The Works of Aristotle

Aristotle wrote over 200 works, including treatises, philosophical dialogues, and scientific studies. Unfortunately, most of Aristotle’s works are lost, except for his lecture notes that were collected by his students and later published.

Aristotle’s works can be broadly classified into three categories: Metaphysics, Politics, and Ethics.

Metaphysics

Metaphysics is Aristotle’s most well-known work and discusses the concept of being and existence.

In the book, Aristotle attempts to answer the fundamental question, “What is reality?” He argues that everything exists in a state of potentiality, which can only be actualized through cause and effect. Aristotle’s view on causality introduced four distinct types of causality: material, formal, efficient, and final.

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Politics

Aristotle’s Politics is another important work that he wrote. In the book, Aristotle discusses the structure and organization of societies and outlines the different forms of government.

He argues that a monarchy is the best form of government, provided it is a good monarchy, followed by aristocracy and democracy, respectively.

Ethics

Aristotle’s Ethics is a study of moral philosophy and what constitutes a good life. According to Aristotle, happiness is the ultimate goal of life, and it is obtained by living a virtuous life.

Aristotle believed that virtues were habits that could be acquired by constant practice. He identified two types of virtues: intellectual virtues and moral virtues. Intellectual virtues are acquired by learning, while moral virtues are acquired by habituation and practice.

Aristotle’s Philosophy

Aristotle’s philosophy is characterized by his emphasis on observation and empirical data. Aristotle believed in using empirical evidence to arrive at a conclusion rather than relying on intuition or abstract reasoning.

Aristotle’s philosophy can be summed up as a belief in the importance of empirical data, the necessity of causality, and the need to define the different forms of causality.

Aristotle’s Legacy

Aristotle’s teachings and ideas have continued to influence philosophy and other fields to the present day. His works influenced medieval philosophical traditions, such as Scholasticism, and he was highly regarded by Islamic and European scholars.

Aristotle’s philosophy had a profound impact on the Enlightenment movement, and his scientific works were particularly influential, setting a precedent for natural philosophy. Aristotle’s ideas were likewise critical to the development of modern science, especially the scientific method, which stresses empirical observation and data collection.

Conclusion

Aristotle remains one of the most important philosophers in history, whose teachings have had a significant impact on modern-day philosophy.

As Plato’s student, Aristotle developed his concepts, which have influenced a wide range of fields, including politics, metaphysics, and ethics. His emphasis on empirical data and causality, in particular, has played a critical role in the development of modern science.

Aristotle’s legacy continues to influence the way we think about the world today, making him one of the most influential figures in the history of philosophy.