Aristotle (384 BCE) was a philosopher and scientist who made groundbreaking contributions to both fields. During Aristotle's lifetime, he also taught a variety of subjects, including philosophy, ethics, logic, and politics. Among Aristotle's best-known works are Poetics, Nichomachean Ethics, Politics, and Metaphysics. Let's take a look at Aristotle's life and death, philosophy, and books.
Aristotle: biography
Aristotle was born in approximately 384 BCE in Stagira, Greece, to parents Nicomachus and Phaestis. When Aristotle was still young, his father passed away, and as a result, Aristotle moved to Athens. Aristotle joined the Academy of Plato as a pupil, and later he became Plato's protégé. Little is known about Aristotle's life. However, what we do know is that during his lifetime, he contributed greatly to the fields of philosophy and science, teaching subjects such as philosophy, ethics, logic, and politics along the way.
In 322 BCE, Aristotle died of a stomach illness. Aristotle is buried in Stagira, Greece, in a tomb.
Aristotle: philosophy
Aristotle made many contributions to philosophy, ethics, science, the arts, and politics, and he had different theories concerning each of these. Many of Aristotle's key theories, however, pertained to metaphysics. Let's have a look at some of these below:
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy, which deals particularly in the study of the nature of reality. This study includes a number of abstract philosophical ideas; for example space, time, being (or existing), knowing, and identity.
Aristotle: ethical theory
Aristotle believed that in order to achieve eudaimonia, the ultimate state of happiness or human flourishing, individuals needed to focus first on being virtuous. According to Aristotle, it is by living a virtuous life that one can then become truly happy.
Aristotle: metaphysical theory
Aristotle: consciousness
Aristotle believed that life forms are not abstract objects, and posited that these forms live very much within space and time. Likewise, Aristotle believed that our consciousness is within our physical body, and is not separate from us.
Aristotle: the universe
According to Aristotle, everything in existence consists of one or more of these five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and aether.
Aristotle: evolution
Aristotle believed that life forms developed gradually from simple to more complex forms, and that all life forms first originated from the sea.
Aristotle: books and quotes
Aristotle: Poetics
Written circa 330 BCE, Aristotle's Poetics is a work of literary and dramatic theory. In Poetics, Aristotle focuses in particular on tragedy and poetry.
Aristotle: tragedy in Poetics
In his Poetics, Aristotle explores the typical features that make up a tragedy. Aristotle compared the genre of tragedy to comedy and the epic, and stated that it often contained serious action and incidents which were able to arouse pity and fear in its audiences. In defining the tragic hero, Aristotle noted that they could be neither excessively good nor excessively evil, but a balanced mixture of the two.
It follows that we must represent men either as better than in real life, or as worse, or as they are.1 (Ch.2)
Aristotle: poetry in Poetics
Aristotle examines the fundamental parts of poetry in his Poetics. According to Aristotle, poetry is the artful use of rhythm, language, and harmony, happening at once or separately. Aristotle posited that, unlike philosophy, poetry is imitative, as it draws from and reflects real-life people, objects, and events. It is for this reason, Aristotle says, that humans are so drawn in by poetry. He also states that we can, in fact, learn from poetry.
it is not the function of the poet to relate what has happened, but what may happen, what is possible according to the law of probability or necessity1 (Ch.9)
Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics
Also written circa 350 BCE, Aristotle's Metaphysics is a study of existence, or being. In Metaphysics, Aristotle rejects the Theory of Forms presented by Plato, in which Plato posited that reality is abstract and that we exist beyond the physical world. According to Aristotle, our life forms are not abstract objects, and live within space and time. Likewise, Aristotle posited that our consciousness is not separate from us, but lies within our physical body.
It is requisite there should be a certain nature, either one, or more than one, from which other things are generated while it is itself preserved.4 (Ch.3)
Aristotle's theories, such as that of the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and aether), laid fundamental groundwork for studies within biology long after he had passed away. He also inspired the works of many important figures and their discoveries. There are clear parallels, for example, between his theory that life forms developed gradually from simple to more complex forms, and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Aristotle has made important contributions to almost every field of knowledge, and those he gave to the fields of science and philosophy are still relevant to us today.
Aristotle: Key takeaways
- Aristotle was born around 384 BCE in Stagira, Greece.
- While Aristotle was still young his father Nicomachus passed away, and as a result, Aristotle moved to Athens.
- Aristotle joined the Academy of Plato as a pupil, and later Aristotle became Plato's colleague.
- Aristotle made many contributions to philosophy, and many of Aristotle's key theories pertained to metaphysics, in particular on consciousness, the universe, and evolution.
- Among Aristotle's best known works are Poetics, Nichomachean Ethics, Politics, and Metaphysics.
- Aristotle died of a stomach illness in 322 BCE.
- Aristotle is buried in Stagira, Greece, in a tomb.
1. Aristotle, Poetics, circa 330 BCE (translated by S. H. Butcher, 1902 edition)
2. Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, circa 350 BCE (translated by F. H. Peters, 1906)
3. Aristotle, Politics, circa 350 BCE (translated by B. Jowett, 1885)
4. Aristotle, Metaphysics, circa 350 BCE (translated by T. Taylor, 1801)
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