Reading: Who was Aristotle?

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy, and the Aristotelian tradition. His writings cover many subjects including physics, biology, zoology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, esthetics, poetry, theater, music, rhetoric, psychology, linguistics, economics, politics, meteorology, geology, and government. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. It was above all from his teachings that the West inherited its intellectual lexicon, as well as problems and methods of inquiry. As a result, his philosophy has exerted a unique influence on almost every form of knowledge in the West and it continues to be a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.

Aristotle's influence on Western thought is vast and profound. His ideas have been debated, discussed, and refined for centuries, and they continue to shape our understanding of the world today. In particular, Aristotle's contributions to logic, ethics, politics, and science have been particularly influential.

• Logic

Aristotle is considered the father of logic. He developed a formal system of logic that is still used today. His work on logic laid the foundation for all subsequent work in the field.

• Ethics

Aristotle's ethical theory is based on the idea that the goal of human life is to achieve eudaimonia, which is often translated as "happiness" or "well-being." He argued that eudaimonia is achieved by living in accordance with our nature, and that our nature is to be rational animals. This means that we should live our lives by reason, and that we should strive to develop our rational faculties.

• Politics

Aristotle's political theory is based on the idea that the best form of government is a republic, in which the people rule themselves. He argued that a republic is the best form of government because it is the most likely to lead to a just and stable society.

• Science

Aristotle was a pioneer in the field of science. He made important contributions to the study of biology, zoology, physics, and meteorology. His work on these subjects laid the foundation for later scientific discoveries.

Aristotle's influence on Western thought is vast and profound. His ideas have shaped our understanding of the world in many ways, and they continue to be debated and discussed today.