Aristotle, born in 384 BCE in Stagira, a Greek city in the Macedonian region, was one of the most influential philosophers and polymaths in history. He was the son of Nicomachus, the court physician to King Amyntas III of Macedon. From a young age, Aristotle displayed exceptional intellect and a keen interest in the natural world, which would shape his lifelong pursuit of knowledge across various disciplines. At the age of 17, Aristotle journeyed to Athens to study under the tutelage of Plato, another renowned philosopher. He spent nearly two decades at Plato’s Academy, where he absorbed Plato’s teachings while also developing his own philosophical ideas. However, Aristotle’s philosophical views often diverged from those of his mentor, particularly regarding the theory of forms and the nature of reality.

In 347 BCE, following Plato’s death, Aristotle left Athens and embarked on a journey of exploration and intellectual inquiry. He spent several years traveling throughout Greece and Asia Minor, studying natural phenomena, collecting specimens, and engaging in philosophical discourse with scholars and intellectuals. In 343 BCE, Aristotle received an invitation from King Philip II of Macedon to return to his homeland and tutor his son, the future Alexander the Great. For the next seven years, Aristotle served as Alexander’s mentor, imparting to him a comprehensive education in literature, philosophy, and science. Their time together would have a profound influence on Alexander’s worldview and ambitions.

After Alexander ascended to the throne in 336 BCE, Aristotle returned to Athens and established his own school, known as the Lyceum. Unlike Plato’s Academy, which focused primarily on abstract philosophy, the Lyceum embraced a more empirical and systematic approach to inquiry. Aristotle’s lectures covered a wide range of subjects, including logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, biology, and physics. Aristotle’s philosophical contributions were vast and varied. In logic, he developed a system of deductive reasoning known as syllogism, which became the foundation of Western formal logic. In metaphysics, he explored the nature of being, causality, and substance, proposing the concept of the four causes to explain the underlying principles of change and motion.

In ethics, Aristotle emphasized the importance of virtue and moral character in achieving eudaimonia, or human flourishing. He outlined his ethical theory in works such as the Nicomachean Ethics and the Eudemian Ethics, stressing the cultivation of virtues such as courage, temperance, and justice as essential to a life of happiness and fulfillment. Aristotle’s political philosophy was equally influential. In his treatise Politics, he examined various forms of government and identified the ideal state as a constitutional monarchy or aristocracy, ruled by virtuous leaders for the common good. He also explored the concept of citizenship, the role of law, and the importance of education in shaping a just and harmonious society.

In the field of natural science, Aristotle made significant contributions to biology, zoology, and botany. His works such as On the Parts of Animals and On the Generation of Animals laid the groundwork for the scientific study of living organisms, categorizing and describing their characteristics and behaviors with remarkable accuracy given the limitations of ancient knowledge and technology. Aristotle’s legacy endured long after his death in 322 BCE. His writings were preserved and studied throughout the Hellenistic period and the Middle Ages, shaping the intellectual landscape of Western civilization. His systematic approach to inquiry, emphasis on empirical observation, and commitment to rational analysis laid the groundwork for the development of modern science and philosophy, ensuring his place as one of history’s greatest thinkers.