Aristotle 384BC

Aristotle Biography(384 BC)

Aristotle was born around 384 BC in Stagirus on the Chalcidic peninsula of northern Greece, to Nicomachus, a medical doctor, and Phaestis. Stagirus was his father's home, while Phaestis came from Chalcis in Euboea.

We don't know anything about Aristotle's childhood, but it is likely Nicomachus would have expected his son to follow in his footsteps. So, Aristotle quite probably traveled with his father on his work, which was the way of the physician of the day. Unhappy with the conditions in the region, Nicomachus began traveling and working more in neighboring Macedonia and eventually became the personal physician to Amyntas III, king of Macedonia.

It is unknown whether the family moved to Pella, the Macedonian capital, or whether Aristotle's father moved there for his work. Either way, young Aristoyle seems to have at least spent some time there as he became friends with Philip, the king s son, who was about his own age. When Aristotle was around the age of 10, Nicomachus died, ending his plan for Aristotle to take up medicine. Either shortly before or shortly after that time, Phaestis also died, leaving the young Aristotle in the care of an uncle (either by blood or as a family friend), Proxenus of Atarneus. Proxenus continued Aristotle's educatio by teaching him Greek, rhetoric, and poetry.

Aristotle and Plato

Around the age of 17, Aristotle became a student at Plato's Academy in Athens. While Plato was not there at the time, but on his first visit to Syracuse, the Academy was being run by Eudoxus of Cnidos. Other teachers included Speusippus, Plato's nephew, and Xenocrates of Chalcedon.

Aristotle was so impressive as a student that he soon became a teacher, himself, remaining at the academy for 20 years. While we know little about Aristotle's subjects at the Academy, it is said that he taught rhetoric and dialogue. He probably did teach rhetoric, as during this time he published Gryllus, a tome that attacked Isocrates's views on rhetoric. Isocrates ran another major educational establishment in Athens.

The events leading tNo stranger to politics, Aristotle supported Alexander to take over his father's throne. Being a brilliant stratgist, Alexander,sought to exert his power and expand his holding by peaceful means. This included supporting the Academy, while simultaneously sending Aristotle to establish a rival school.

In 335 BC Aristotle traveled to Athens with his circle of assistants to staff his new school. Thanks to his previous bid at taking over the Academy, they were well stocked with a large range of teaching materials, gathered in Macedonia; including books, maps, and other teaching material. There, in Athens, he founded the Lyceum.

Aristotle apparently lectured on a wide variety of topics, many of which had never been studied before, making him an innovator. He often lectured repeatedly on the same topic, contiuously improving on his own thought processes, writing down his lectures, many of which we still have today. Some of his topics included logic, physics, astronomy, meteorology, zoology, metaphysics, theology, psychology, politics, economics, ethics, rhetoric, and poetics. Today, there exists some debate on whether the works we recognize as Aristotle's were all written by him or his followers. However, some explain the difference in writing style as the development over the years of his own beliefs.

Contributions of Aristotle

While Aristotle's contributions in each subject were considerable for the time, his major contribution was to the overall study and teaching of such subjects, many of which had never been considered before. Two areas which he advanced, which are of particular interest to readers of this site were physics and astronomy. He made very interesting discussion os the topics of matter, change, movement, space, position, and time as well as studying comets.

Aristotle was forced to mave one more time during his lifetime. Alexander the Great died in 232BC, leaving behind strong feelings in Athens. Thanks to his ties to Macedonia, Aristotle was forced to retire to Chalcis, his mothers homeland, where he moved into a house once owned by his mother which still belonged to her family. He died there one year later at the age of 62, after complaining of stomach problems.o Aristotles departure from the academy are a bit cloudy. Some say that after Plato died in 347 BC, Speusippus assumed the leadership of the Academy. Perhaps Aristotle quit because he disagreed with Speusippus's views, or had hoped to be named Plato's successor, himself. Another theory deals with Aristotle's old friend, Philip of Macedonia.

In 359 BC, Philip had ascended to the throne when his older brother, Perdiccas was killed fighting off an Illyrian invasion. Philip was a skillful ruler, who not only maintained peace in his own realm, but also expanded into neighboring territories. Philip captured Olynthus and annexed Chalcidice in 348 BC. Athens was concerned about the threat of an expanding Macedonia. It's possible Aristotles continuing friendship with a threatening ruler may have led to his politically charged departure from the Academy. It also appears that Xenocrates of Chalcedon left with him.

From Athens, Aristotle traveled to Assos, where he was received warmly by the ruler Hermias of Atarneus. Many believe he was acting as an ambassador for Philip of Macedonia, and he was certainly treated as such. He married Pythias, the niece and adopted daughter of Hermias, who was probably about 18 at the time. They had one child, a daughter also called Pythias, but the elder Pythias died about 10 years after their marriage.

Hermias had gathered group of philosophers on Assos. Aristotle became the leader of this group. Thanks to his father, he was very interested in anatomy and biology and was a great observer. Aristotle and his group began to collect observations while in Assos, in particular in zoology and biology. He also probably began writing Politics during these years as well as On Kingship, which hasn't survive to this day. Unfortunately, politics once again played a part in Aristotles next move. When the Persiand attacked Assos and captured Hermias, Aristotle escaped with many of his scientists to the island of Lesbos. They remained there for about a year, continuing their research.

Return to Macedonia

In 346BC, Philip had created a treaty with Athens. Three years later, after a year on lesbos, Aristotle and his crew arrived in Macedonia, where he remained for seven years. While many would have you believe he taught a young Alexander the great, that story is probably not true. However, it is possible Philip hoped to place Aristotle in charge of the Academy in Athens, since Speusippus was a strong opponent to Philip. If so, he was not able to make this happen.

The treaty between Macedonia and Athens began to crumble in 340BC. When elections were held the following year, after Speusippus's death, Aristotle was not elected. Instead, the position went to Xenocrates. Perhaps because he had lost what he hoped would be his puppet at the Academy, Philip lost his interest in further support of Aristotle. Aristotle moved back to his home in Stagirus along with his circle of philosophers and scientists.

Although he never remarried, Aristotle met a woman in Stagirus named Herpyllis. Exact dates are not clear, but the two had a relationship and a son, whom they named Nicomachus, after Aristotle's father.No stranger to politics, Aristotle supported Alexander to take over his father's throne. Being a brilliant stratgist, Alexander,sought to exert his power and expand his holding by peaceful means. This included supporting the Academy, while simultaneously sending Aristotle to establish a rival school.

In 335 BC Aristotle traveled to Athens with his circle of assistants to staff his new school. Thanks to his previous bid at taking over the Academy, they were well stocked with a large range of teaching materials, gathered in Macedonia; including books, maps, and other teaching material. There, in Athens, he founded the Lyceum.

Aristotle apparently lectured on a wide variety of topics, many of which had never been studied before, making him an innovator. He often lectured repeatedly on the same topic, contiuously improving on his own thought processes, writing down his lectures, many of which we still have today. Some of his topics included logic, physics, astronomy, meteorology, zoology, metaphysics, theology, psychology, politics, economics, ethics, rhetoric, and poetics. Today, there exists some debate on whether the works we recognize as Aristotle's were all written by him or his followers. However, some explain the difference in writing style as the development over the years of his own beliefs.

Contributions of Aristotle

While Aristotle's contributions in each subject were considerable for the time, his major contribution was to the overall study and teaching of such subjects, many of which had never been considered before. Two areas which he advanced, which are of particular interest to readers of this site were physics and astronomy. He made very interesting discussion os the topics of matter, change, movement, space, position, and time as well as studying comets.

Aristotle was forced to mave one more time during his lifetime. Alexander the Great died in 232BC, leaving behind strong feelings in Athens. Thanks to his ties to Macedonia, Aristotle was forced to retire to Chalcis, his mothers homeland, where he moved into a house once owned by his mother which still belonged to her family. He died there one year later at the age of 62, after complaining of stomach problems.