Who was the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle?

Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath whose extensive writings spanned natural sciences, philosophy, and the arts. Born in Stagira, he studied at Plato's Academy, tutored Alexander the Great, and founded the Peripatetic school of philosophy at the Lyceum in Athens. His profound synthesis of prior philosophies and systematic observations shaped medieval scholarship and set the groundwork for modern science.

What we know

• Aristotle was born in the city of Stagira in Chalkidiki during the Classical period and lived from 384 to 322 BC. [3]
• He spent around twenty years at Plato's Academy in Athens, joining at about eighteen years old and leaving shortly after Plato died. [3]
• At the request of Philip II of Macedon, Aristotle began tutoring his son Alexander the Great starting in 343 BC. [3]
• Aristotle's biology is grounded in systematic observation and data collection, with many observations made during his stay on the island of Lesbos. [4]

Still open

• Little is known about certain details of Aristotle's life, and only around a third of his original written output has survived.

Where to go next

• how it workedWhat did Aristotle discover in biology?
• the bigger pictureHow did Plato influence Aristotle's early career?
• whereWhat was the Lyceum in Athens?
• what followedHow did Aristotle shape medieval philosophy?
• whoWho was Alexander the Great's tutor?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a medieval legend portray Aristotle being outwitted?Despite being revered as the ultimate ancient intellect, Aristotle became the subject of a popular medieval cautionary tale where he was seduced and outwitted by a woman named Phyllis.

Sources

• [1]Aristotle Onassis (Wikidata Q180455) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Aristotle Onassis · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Aristotle · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Aristotle's biology · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Phyllis and Aristotle · CC BY-SA 4.0